Mystery Animal Tracks: Early February 2021

I love the Jim Baillie Nature Reserve near Udora Ontario.

I have visited it in every season. Here are some spring photos:

Today there was a recent snow covering, blue sky and a temperature of -8.

I found many circular tracks in the snow.

Members of the cat family pull in their claws when they walk because they want them to remain razor sharp when they encounter prey. These prints did not show claws.

Prints were about 12 inches apart.

and about 3 inches in length.

The animal is most likely the seldom-seen Bobcat. You might come across its tracks anywhere from the wild forested hills of the northwest in Ontario to the open areas of the south – even in residential areas.

Photo: safariniagara.com

Some botany:

Yellow Birch (Betula allegheniensis)
Mountain Maple (Acer spicataum)
Mountain Maple (Acer spicataum)
Mountain Maple (Acer spicataum)
Sensitive Fern fertile frond
Red Maple (Acer rubra)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)
White Cedar (Picea glauca)
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
White Pine needles
Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)
Red-osier (Cornus sericea)
Cat-tail (Typha)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana)

Though I was unable to photograph any birds, I did notice Common Raven, White and Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee and Belted Kingfisher.

NATURE THOUGHT

“Garden as though you will live forever.” ­­–William Kent (1685–1748), eminent English architect

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Mystery Animal Tracks: Early February 2021

  1. Susan

    what beautiful photos Miles – sunshine, new-fallen snow, clear blue skies – what a joy that walk must have been. It is for us too. especially the bobcat tracks

    Reply

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