Join us for ecology exploration at Hidden Valley Nature Center!
We know the woods around our homes and along our favorite trails are filled with wildlife, but exactly which animals are living there? In this workshop, Maine Master Naturalist Jill Osgood will help unravel the mysteries of identifying which animals are active but unseen along ponds and in the forests around us.
Participants will learn to identify animal tracks by the shape of the footprint, length of the stride, walking style, and the habitat in which they are found. We’ll examine plaster casts of animal tracks and use tracking ID cards (which participants can take home) to see which feet belong to which animal. As well as looking at the prints made by different animals, the group will learn how different animals walk. Knowing which mammals bound, diagonally walk, hop, or waddle, will allow even unclear tracks to be identified.
After an introduction to tracking in the Barn, the group will venture out on a hike in search of animal tracks and signs including scat, chews, trails, and holes. Join us as we search the landscape for signs of animals that are likely living in your woods as well.
Please dress to be outside in the cold and potentially snow. Bring water, a snack, extra layers for warmth, and be prepared for a 1-2 mile hike.
Each Saturday will offer a different topic to be explored in depth, led by a naturalist but guided by the interests of the group.