Venture into an animal's life story through its tracks and signs. More than simply determining where an animal crossed the road, tracking can lead to a study of how the animal uses its habitat, how it travels, where it feeds or hunts, how it breeds and raises its young, and how it survives. In this book, leading tracking expert Jim Lowery distills his remarkable expertise, gained over decades of intensive research and practical field experience, into a comprehensive field guide to tracking North American mammals. Fully illustrated with hundreds of drawings and high-resolution photographs, The Tracker's Field Guide sets a new standard for books on tracking. This easy-to-use guide features:Clearly written descriptions plus photos and illustrations of scats, tracks, and gait patternsEasy-to-use track measurements for each animal Tips on proper track interpretation techniqueNotes on the behavior and habitat of each mammal A glossary of tracking termsQuick-reference summary pages at the back of the bookA tough, water-resistant cover and extra-durable binding made to withstand the rigors of field use
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Contents Acknowledgments vii1: Into the Animal's World 12: Clear Print Identification 43: Track Pattern Basics 94: Soil Movement and Track Identification 145: Track Pattern Interpretation 166: Using Pressure Releases for Interpretation 267: Mammal Pages 30 Cats 33 Bobcat 34 Domestic Cat 42 Mountain Lion 46 Dogs 55 Coyote 56 Domestic Dog 64 Gray Fox 68 Gray Wolf 76 Kit Fox 82 Red Fox 90 Rabbits and Hares 99 Black-Tailed Jackrabbit 100 Cottontail 108 Snowshoe Hare 116 White-Tailed Jackrabbit 122 Rodents 127 Antelope Squirrel 128 Beaver 132 Chipmunk 140 Fox Squirrel 148 Gray Squirrel 154 Ground Squirrel 162 Kangaroo Rat 170 Marmot/Woodchuck 178 Mice 184 Peromyscus Mice (Peromyscus Genus) 187 Harvest Mice (Reithrodontomys Genus) 188 Grasshopper Mice (Onychomys Genus) 189 Pocket Mice (Chaetodipus and Perognathus Genus) 190 Muskrat 192 Pocket Gopher 198 Porcupine 202 Red Squirrel 210 Vole 216 Woodrat 220 Weasels 229 Badger 230 Fisher 238 Marten 242 Mink 250 River Otter 256 Spotted Skunk 262 Striped Skunk 270 Weasel 278 Raccoons, Opossums, and Bears 287 Raccoon 288 Ringtail 296 Opossum 304 Black Bear 310 Grizzly Bear 318 Insectivore 323 Shrew 324 Ungulates 327 Bighorn Sheep 328 Burro 336 Domestic Cow 338 Elk 340 Feral Pig 348 Llama 350 Moose 352 Mule Deer/Black-Tailed Deer 356 Pronghorn 364 White-Tailed Deer 370
Appendix A: Mammal List 377
Appendix B: Recommended Reading 380
Appendix C: Visualizing Home-Range Sizes 396
Appendix D: Resources 398Glossary 399Index 402About the Author 408
