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Outdoors
Michigan DNR
An easy, fun way to enjoy fresh air is to keep an eye out for animal tracks. You can do this year-round, but with tracks and evidence of critters more visible with snow on the ground, winter is one of the best times.
Rachel Lincoln, a DNR wildlife outreach coordinator, said many animals remain active during Michigan winters, both in urban and rural settings, and it’s common to see tracks of deer, squirrels, coyotes, birds and rabbits widespread throughout the state – though the tracks of bobcats, foxes and weasels prove more elusive.
“Small mammals such as shrews, mice and voles will tunnel beneath the snow, leaving lines of raised snow that are easy to spot,” she said. “Following tracks gives insights into animal behavior. You’re like a detective, piecing together what the animal was doing, where it was traveling to and from, whether it was alone or traveling in groups.”
Want to know more? Animal track field guides can help you learn about the tracks you’re seeing. Peterson’s Field Guide on Animal Tracks is a great resource to explore beforehand or take with you in the field. Learn more about plant and wildlife species at Michigan.gov/Wildlife.