I looked around to see if I could spot it, but, alas, it was gone.Īs a former winter-whiner (definition: an individual who complains about winter weather conditions non-stop), I’m learning to embrace the white, fluffy stuff, and tolerate the fact that for most of the time between December and March, I can’t feel my face. It seemed as if an eastern cottontail had made its way along my walking route, almost walking paw in foot with me. Recently, I was walking my dogs and found a pristine track along my driveway. The little ones look like Grey Squirrel to me - Weasel and other mustelid prints should show five toes on both front and hind paws and this looks like four. I love seeing a track preserved in the snow and trying to decipher which species could have left it. There’s something special about seeing a wild animal in its natural environment, but seeing the signs they leave behind - but not necessarily the individuals themselves - is like solving a mini-mystery. Unlike dog tracks, which tend to wander more, coyotes and foxes usually walk in straighter lines. Either way, these species tend to walk by putting one paw in front of another, creating a narrow, straight track. If the snow is deep, it could look like an oval-shaped print.

Depending on the density of the snow, you might see a neatly indented paw print. If you’re really lucky, you might come across some fox or coyote prints. Raccoon and opossum tracks are my favourites, since they look like tiny hands in the snow. In deeper snow, look for tunnels just under the surface, where these rodents find food and warmth. Mice and voles tracks are small and even, and sometimes leave a tiny mark from their tail. Other signs of urban visitors you might come across include mice, voles, raccoons or opossum tracks. Their tracks usually lead to a tree, while rabbit tracks are more staggered and roughly make the shape of a triangle. You can tell the difference between the two, as squirrel prints are side by side (with grey squirrels being twice the size of red squirrels). Their bigger hind feet appear in front of their smaller, front feet. These species’ tracks appear a bit backwards to us two-legged, upright humans. The most common tracks to see in both of these areas might include rabbit, such as eastern cottontail, or red or grey squirrel. For example, you’ll see different animal signs when walking through a forest than you would in a residential park. Grey squirrel tracks (Photo by Chase Watesicoot)ĭepending on the habitat you’re walking in, and where in Canada you are, the types of species will differ.

Squirrel paw prints