Where to go: Just after a fresh snow, head out to a nearby stream, field, or forest, and be on the lookout for tracks and signs that wildlife have been there. The best snow depth to read animal tracks is about 1-4 inches. When there is more snow, it can be difficult to see the patterns that each animal leaves.

What to wear: Be sure that you bundle up if the weather is cold. Wildlife have lots of fur to keep them warm, but we do not.

What to bring: A camera to take a picture of tracks or wildlife.

Questions for your family to talk about:

• How big are the tracks? What is the shape of the tracks?
• How quickly do you think the animal was moving?
• Why do you think the animal was here?
• What other signs of wildlife do you see? Sometimes wildlife leave behind bits of fur, scratches, rubs, or chew marks on plants and trees, and scat.

With some practice and a wildlife tracking field guide (available at many local libraries), you can identify the kind of animal that left the tracks or sign and what the animal was doing. Don’t forget--if you see wildlife, give them space. You may be able to watch them for a longer time if you stay quiet and a safe distance away from the animals. That way the wildlife shouldn’t feel scared and you can stay safe.