The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) is a vast and diverse landscape that is home to a variety of wildlife. In the winter, when the ground is covered in snow, animal tracks can be a great way to learn about the species in the area. “These tracks are a record of what has occurred in the recent past. Animal movements are carefully calculated in order to best conserve energy in these harsh conditions.” (Yellowstone Forever)
It’s easiest to look for tracks in areas where the snow isn’t too deep. It is also helpful to look for individual tracks that are fresh and have not been disturbed by other animals or blowing snow. The illumination of snow can also help you spot tracks from a distance, unlike tracks in mud or dirt. Patterns can also tell us a lot about which animal’s path you are looking at. For example, the longer the stride and wider the straddle (the measurement of the width from the outer left feet tracks to the outer right feet tracks), the bigger the animal making those tracks.
Here are some common animal tracks that you may find in the GYE:
- Deer tracks: Many of the deer leave Grand Teton and Yellowstone in the winter, but stay in the ecosystem. It’s all about going to areas where snow is not too deep to eke out a living. Deer tracks are small and tear-dropped shaped. They are usually about 3” inches long and 2.5” inches wide. Mule deer live in larger groups in winter compared to summer. They will feed in an area as group for several weeks, following each other’s trails in order to save energy in the deep snow. This is called yarding.
- Elk tracks: Elk tracks are larger and more rounded at the tip of the toes than deer tracks. They are usually about 4.5 inches long and 3 inches wide. Since elk travel in larger herds during the winter, you may spot many lines of tracks in one group.
- Moose tracks: A bit bigger than elk tracks, they have the iconic shape of a heart with some extra space between the back of the toes (like a big deer track). Moose have two dew claws that make a distinct mark in the snow at the back of the track. Deer and elk both have dew claws that show up in the snow track as well. Look for a wide stride, a straight line, and mostly likely a singular line of tracks, as they tend to be solitary if they are not a female with her calf.
- Coyote tracks: Coyote tracks are similar to domestic dog tracks, but the toes often point forward while domestic dog tracks are often splayed out. They are about 2.5 inches long and 2 inches wide on average with 4 very distinct toes and claw marks. Coyote tracks are often in a straight line, especially if they are hunting or while travelling from one area to another.
- Fox tracks: Fox tracks are similar to coyote tracks, but they are smaller. They are usually about 2 inches long and 1.8 inches wide. Because foxes are lighter than their canid cousins, tracks may be only slightly depressed in the snow. Although their track size is of similar size to coyotes, foxes have a much smaller track stride and straddle due to foxes being half the size of coyotes.
- Beaver tracks: Probably the most distinctive of tracks, the beaver has webbed hind feet and smaller front paws. They also drag their tail resulting in a shallow yet wide groove, slightly obscuring the inside of the track. It’ll come as no surprise that the most likely location of these tracks is near bodies of water.
Of course, there are countless other tracks in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. You can check out each individual mammal from the National Park Service. In addition to looking for tracks, you can also look at scat (poop), which tells you about the animal’s diet and health. Animals leave other signs of their daily lives as well, including gnawed trees from beavers, red snow indicating predation, feathers, nests, tips of shrubs/plants bitten off, scratch marks on trees, and so much more.
Ready to put on your animal tracking hat? The guides at Wildlife Expeditions of Teton Science Schools are ready to help you investigate all the incredible stories the animals of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem leave behind. Book your winter trip today.
Sources:
Making Tracks, Yellowstone Forever
Mule Deer- National Park Service
