What’s going on out on the land?
Jumping Mouse Tracks vs. Vole Tracks
It seems differentiating between Jumping Mice and Voles in my area is a persistent struggle. I have confused them on study calls and most recently on another TCNA Track and Sign evaluation (earning me 99% instead of 100%). With this latest affront to my pride I decided I needed to work through the tracks with more focus and practice seeing the minute differences of these minuscule tracks.
Shrew, Mouse, and Vole Trails
I still get confused between Shrew, Mouse and Vole trails. A couple of mornings ago, when we got a fresh coat of snow, I could look down and see some pretty clear trails running perpendicular to the path I was walking on. They were small, had tracks of feet, and some showed tail drags. Some were hoping, some walking. While I looked at them I realized that I wasn’t 100% on which species or group of species they belonged to.
In light of this conundrum, I thought it would be worthwhile to put a little post together to help me better learn what to look for. Here goes.