Date: April 13, 2026

Places: South-end of Guelph, ON.

References:
– [1] ‘Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species’, Mark Elbroch, Stackpole Books (1st Ed.), 2003
– [2] ‘Bird Tracks & Sign’, Mark Elbroch and Eleanor Marks, Stackpole Books (1st Ed.), 2001

Context:
I was recovering from a yucky cold and needed a short walk near my home. The animal tracks were observed in a nearby muddy field beside a new housing estate.

Observations:
My first observation was of Canada Goose tracks. Several of these birds were right next to me. Based on the photo below, I made the following measurements:

track length: 4 1/2 in
track width: 3 3/4 in
stride: 15 in

The stride length is outside the usual range quoted in [2] and is greater than three track lengths, so perhaps the goose was running. According to [2], page 35, except in shorebirds and waders, running strides are generally about 2 to 5 track lengths. Notice also that toe 1 does not register, and that in the lower track the metatarsal pad registers only lightly, whereas in the upper track it does not register at all.

The next two observations are of squirrels bounding. In the first photo below, we have the following measurements:

Trail width: 4 in
Group length: 5 in
Front length: 1 1/4 in
Front width: 3/4 in
Hind length: 1 1/8 in
Hind width: 1 in

Now, some of these measurements are at the lower end of those quoted in [1] for Gray Squirrels, so it’s important to look at some of the morphological characteristics that distinguish the two species. Some experts on the Facebook group ‘CyberTracker Specialist Evaluation Study Buddies’ made the following comments:

• Overall, the tracks are narrower, toes thin and long, a little smaller than gray squirrel tracks.
• In douglas and red squirrels the proximal (‘heel’) pads are slightly larger and wider than the palm pads.

Now for the next bounding squirrel, I recorded the following measurements:

Trail width: 4 5/8 in
Group length: 3 1/2 in
Front length: 1 1/4 in
Front width: 7/8 in
Hind length: 1 1/8 in
Hind width: 1 in

These measurements are consistent with Gray Squirrel, but a little on the small side. Certainly, the trail width is bigger. The experts on the Facebook group made the following comments:

• I would call these gray squirrel. The toes are not as long and thin as the others [red squirrels]. The feet are larger.
• I look for the fat meta pad and dropped/wide angled inner toe on the hinds for Grays. 
• Mostly I look for the proximal pads on the front feet. In gray, it seems the pads make a fairly even box with the proximal (I think that’s the right word) pads about the same size as the palm pads. 

I find these subtle morphological differences between the two species difficult to distinguish. However, to my eye, red squirrel tracks have longer, thinner toes, and in the front tracks the combined palm and heel pad seems proportionally larger relative to the whole track than in gray squirrel tracks. And I think I can also see the last point mentioned, namely, the box-like shape formed by the pads and heel pads in the front tracks for Gray Squirrels.

When I saw the next track, I thought it was from a domestic dog. But it seems atypical. Are we seeing the carpal pad impression at the track posterior because of the soft sediment?

I asked on the Facebook group “Animals Don’t Cover their Tracks” and two people suggested Red Fox. Here are their comments:

• This looks like a red fox track to me—sharp horizontal bar in heel pad, lots of negative space in center of track, undefined toe bones rather than distinct toe pads. I think the claws look blunt because we’re seeing them dig in deeper than normal and the wider part of the claw farther up towards the toe is registering. Length of approximately 2.25″ is appropriate for a red fox, and they have no compunction about hanging out near people.
• Looks like a red fox to me. Right size, it’s oval, chevron in pad, lots of negative space because of furry feet. Also, I’ve only seen this once before, so I could be totally wrong, but almost looks like I can see toe 1 underneath the pad and to the left, which would suggest a loping gait or gallop.

I feel a little silly now. The chevron shape in the heel should have given this away.

After visiting the muddy field, I continued my walk until I reached a path that passes through a cattail marsh and ultimately connects to Preservation Park. I found some bark sign on a black willow (?) that reminds me of gray squirrel sign I have seen before. The vertical stripes on the bark are likely due to scent and territorial marking by gray squirrels when they bite the bark, which is discussed on pages 599-601 of [1].

For the remainder of my walk I enjoyed some signs of Spring. Below I show a photo of some pussy willow (Salix discolor ?) and the associated Willow Pine Cone Gall: a distinctive, pine cone-shaped growth found on
willow branch tips, caused by a small midge fly.

It was also nice to see Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), an early spring wildflower known for its bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers that appear on scaly stems before leaves emerge.

Finally, on my walk home through an urban area, I spotted a pair of Merlins while using my Merlin Bird ID app – LOL. The Merlin is a small, compact falcon that breeds across the northern forests of North America and Eurasia. It mainly hunts small birds in fast aerial pursuit and, since about 1960, has also become a common urban bird in some northern prairie towns, where it nests and winters while feeding largely on House Sparrows (see https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/merlin).

Nearby was their nest, perhaps 40 feet up in a deciduous tree near the crown. The nest contained a large amount of some kind of white, fluffy human-made material. According to the article referenced above, Merlins usually nest in old hawk, crow, or magpie nests in trees, about 10-60 feet above the ground, adding little or no material.

Final thoughts:
I am amazed by how much I saw on such a short urban walk! Whether in the wilderness or in the city, there is always so much to see if one is observant.