Photo by Dennis Deck
Photo by Dennis Deck
Who made both sets of tracks? [ View Answer ]
My first thought, peering down at the pigeon-toed gait in the furrow, was porcupine. However, we
had not seen any signs of tree damage in the area. Plus you can not see drag marks from quills
so something wasn't right about this furrow.
Answer
Try the easy tracks first. The short-long-short-long pattern moving from left to right should
suggest an ermine (aka short-tailed weasel). From a distance that pattern stands out even though
you are not close enought to see the diagonal lope characteristic of the weasel family. The narrow
trail width relative to the long intergroup distance is a further clue that that this is a small
weasel. Following his tracks we saw evidence that when he found holes in the snow he would crawl
down to the subnivean region to look for mice and voles. 
The other set of tracks were clearly made by a larger animal too heavy to stay on the surface of
the snow. The track is really a furrow, suggesting an animal with relatively short legs. 
Following the trail further we had our surprising answer. This fellow was a serious digger.
At every hint of a rodent burrow this badger would dig down under the snow looking for a winter meal.