Animal tracks in the snow melt my heart

MANY of the wild mammals that live in our countryside are nocturnal and even species that are active in daylight, such as squirrels and deer, are extremely shy.

This means people who are interested in mammals often have to infer their presence from tracks and signs rather than actually seeing the animals themselves.

Signs include droppings, damage to tree bark by deer or squirrels, discarded nut shells or cones and pathways made by hares or badgers. But footprints or tracks are one of the most satisfying ways of monitoring the movements of shy mammals. And that’s why I always get a bit excited when we have a fall of snow.