Tracks!

Animal tracks are a wonderful way to learn about wildlife. By observing wildlife tracks you can learn what kind of animal species live in a certain area, how many there may be and what they are doing. Other signs of wildlife such as burrows, droppings, nests and food litter can also tell us many things about wildlife. Animal tracks are easily found in mud and snow. Take advantage of all of our Iowa snow and get outside to look for animal tracks! Use Project WILD’s “Tracks!” to delve into the wonder of animal tracks!

Young Child Extension
Young children can look for animal tracks too! Take children on a walk through the snow to observe animal tracks. Encourage them to make observations about what they see. How big are the tracks? What kind of animal do they think they are from? Do they themselves also make tracks in the snow? Upon returning to the classroom allow children to make their own track pictures using tracks stencils or rubber tracks stamp, or remove their shoes and let them make their own tracks with their own bare feet! For more fun ideas with young children use Project WILD’s Growing Up WILD “Tracks!”.

Book List

Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 1994. Crinkleroot's Twenty-Five Mammals Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Boring, M. and L. Garrow. 1996. Rabbits, Squirrels, and Chimpmunks (Take-Along Guide). T&N Children's Publishing.
Dingwall, L. 1994. Deer (Getting to Know Nature's Children Series). Grolier Academic Reference.
Dorros, A. 1991. Animal Tracks. Scholastic, Inc
George, L. B. 1999. In the Snow: Who's Been Here?. HarperCollins Publishers.
Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
MacLulich, C. 1996. Animal Feet. Scholastic, Inc.
Nail, J.D. and H. Skudder. 1994. Whose Tracks Are These? A Clue Book for Familiar Forest Animals. Rinehart Publishing.
Ricci, C. and S. Hall. 2003. Follow Those Feet! (Dora the Explorer Ready-to-Read, Level 1). Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group.
Robertson, K. 1986. Signs along the River: Learning to Read the Natural Landscape. Rinehart.
Rockwell, A. 1992. Our Yard is Full of Birds. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishers.
Ruurs, M. 2007. In My Backyard. Tundra.
Sams, C.R. and J. Stoick. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Carl R. Sams II Photography.
Selsam, M. E. and M.D. Hill. 1999. Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints. HarperCollins Publishers.
Selsam, M.E. and J. Hunt. 1991. Keep Looking! Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Sill, C. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Wiesmuller, D. 2003. In the Blink of an Eye. Walker & Company.
Wolff, A. 2006. Stella and Roy Go Camping. Yosemite Association.
Yee, W.H. 2007. Tracks in the Snow. Square Fish.

Grades 3-5
Amato, C.A. 2002. Backyard Pets: Activities for Exploring Wildlife Close to Home. Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 2002. Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking. HarperCollins.
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 1983. Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher. HarperCollins Publishers.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Bair, D. and P. Wright. 1999. Deer Watching. Capstone Press.
Bateman, R. 2005. Bateman's Guide to Backyard Birds. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Bishop, N. 2002. Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close. Scholastic, Inc.
Green, J. 2002. In a Backyard. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Loates, G. and B. Kalman. 1988. Birds at My Feeder. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Norsgaard, E.J. 1990. Nature's Great Balancing Act: In Our Own Backyard. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Pine, J. 1993. Backyard Birds (HarperCollins Nature Study Book). Harper Collins.
Ross, M.E. 1997. Wildlife Watching with Charles Eastman. Lerner Publishing Group.
Russo, M. 1998. Watching Nature: A Beginner's Field Guide. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.
Shedd, W. 2002. Kids' Wildlife Book. Williamson Kids Can Series.
Squire, A.O. 1996. 101 Questions and Answers about Backyard Wildlife. Walker & Company.
Sterry, P. 2005. Nature Explorer. Running Press Book Publishers.

Grades 6-8
Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.
Grassy, J. 1998. Mammals (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
La Tourrette, J. 1997. Watching Wildlife: The National Wildlife Federation Guide to Observing Animals in the Wild. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Peterson, R. T., R. P. Grossenheider, and O. J. Murie. 1996. Peterson Flash Guides: Animal Tracks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Grades 9-12
Bang, P., P. Dahlstrom, and R. Mears. 2006. Animal Tracks and Signs. Oxford University Press, USA.
Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.
Kavanagh, J., and R. Leung. 2000. Animal Tracks. Waterford Press, Ltd.
La Tourrette, J. 1997. Watching Wildlife: The National Wildlife Federation Guide to Observing Animals in the Wild. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Peterson, R. T., O. J. Murie, and M. Elbroch. 2005. Peterson Field Guide to Animals Tracks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.