December 11, 2024

Tracing Tracks: Winter Wildlife

By Rhea Cone | December 11, 2024

While winter in Park City tends to bring the hustle and bustle of ski season, winter for wildlife often means a time to migrate, hibernate, hunker down, or reduce activity to survive the long and cold season. Lucky for us, a blanket of snow across the landscape provides the best tracking season of the year! Wildlife tracks become much more visible and widespread once grasses, shrubs, and other vegetation is covered with a blank white canvas. After each snowfall, the Swaner Preserve tells a story about who was out there and offers insights into animal behavior. 

To identify tracks in the snow, we often categorize animals and their tracks into hoppers, walkers, bounders, and waddlers. 

Hoppers: Like their name suggests, hoppers “hop” across the landscape! Their front feet typically land first, and then larger back legs swing in front. Black-tailed Jackrabbits and Snowshoe Hares are frequent hoppers across the Preserve, and their large feet keep them from sinking into the snow. 

Walkers: Stepping with a distinct efficient pattern is just how humans move, as well as moose, elk, deer, and bobcats. Sometimes, groups of animals may all step in the same spot to maximize efficiency. Have you ever walked in somebody else's footprints so you didn’t have to break trail in the snow? 

Bounders: Picture an animal “bounding” across the snow-covered Preserve- their front feet land together first, and then back feet join them. Long-tailed weasel tracks are most commonly seen in our area, but mink and otters follow the same pattern. 

Waddlers: Waddlers tend to move one side of their body at a time, lack some of the other walking patterns of wildlife, or tend to move more slowly, such as badgers or skunks.  

Sometimes other types of tracks appear on the Preserve, like wing marks from a hawk or owl hunting and briefly landing to grab their prey! A beaver sliding on its belly down a hill can leave a track much like a sled. Just like how skiers and snowboarders seek out fresh powder, the texture of snow can make a big difference in the quality of tracks and how easily we can identify them. 

What other clues can you use to identify the creature that make the tracks you’re observing? Size is a great place to start! When we look at two similar tracks made by hoppers, we know that the big black-tailed jackrabbit will make larger and farther tracks versus the small and cute mountain cottontail. The shape of the print is also important. Are there visible claw marks? If so, it may be coyote or domestic dog versus a cat, who retract their claws when walking. 

Want to practice your tracking? Join us on the Preserve for a Saturday morning nature walk or during open hours to observe signs of wildlife around you. Happy tracking! 

goose tracks in the snow

Goose tracks

Hare tracks in the snow on the left, raccoon tracks in the snow on the right

Hare tracks in the snow on the left, raccoon tracks in the snow on the right

Other Naturalist News

Events

Newsletter SIGN UP

Location, Hours & Contact

Physical & Mailing Address
1258 Center Drive
Park City, Utah 84098

EcoCenter Hours
Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm
The EcoCenter will close early on January 9 at 1 pm

Phone
435-649-1767

Events

View Full Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter Calendar
Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter logo