Tracks
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Be careful not to step on the tracks! Mark the track with some red tape. Look around, are there other tracks in the area? Figure out which way the animal was traveling and see if you can find a trail of tracks.
Mark each track with some tape. Measure the distance between the tracks to determine where the next one should be. Look closely at the tracks. Count the toes. Study the shape of the pad. Can you see claws? Is it a hoofed animal? Was the animal speeding up? Slowing down? Walking or running? Can you see more than one track on top of another? Why might animals do this? Measure one track. How big is the animal? Draw the track in your field notebook. Look up the track and see who made it. |
When making a plaster cast of a track, pour water into the baggie of dry plaster, and mix until it is approximately the consistency of pancake batter.
Pour the entire contents of the baggie into the track, even if it seems like a small track. Too much plaster is not a problem, but too little can be - the plaster cast can crack if it's too thin. Once you've put water into the plaster, the chemical reaction has started whether you use it or not, so you might as well use it. It can take up to 24 hours to harden, so tell Lafcadio where you left the plaster, and she will pick it up the next day. |
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Additional Resources
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