Frozen Footsteps
Jenny reflects on the joy of tracking wildlife’s winter movements
One of my favourite things about snow, aside from the beauty, quietness and brightness it brings, is the veil it lifts on animal movements. Those normally secret lines they snake over land are suddenly illuminated by tracks in the snow.
Searching for otters and their signs at Ullapool River is something I do automatically on my daily commute from home to work. I usually carry out my otter detective work from finding their spraint (poo). I make mental notes in the spring that they are back making regular visits to the duck pond, their spraint marking the edge and noting if their slide to the river might be in good use.
I have had cameras out catching their movements but that feels more like being a spy than detective and being a detective is more fun.
Today on my walk I discovered that their snowy prints (not the clearest I have ever seen were still unmistakably otter) came out of the river, as far as a stone where a pee, highlighted yellow by being on snow, was made and then back to the river. The otter's movement to that stone was not just a trip to the riverbank for toileting though, it was a deliberate act of territory marking.
When I look at a set of prints I ask “What does it mean?”
These prints and their movements shown by the tracks in the snow are another small but interesting clue to the lives of our local otters - giving behavioural insights. For instance it was one set of prints, so this otter was alone. Recently three otters have been seen together so this is either another sole otter or maybe the trio was split, one of them marking on the stone to tell the other two where it had been.
Can the others tell from how strong the smell on the stone is, whether the other otter was there two hours ago or 10 minutes ago? They probably can.
Studies on dogs with owners who follow set routines have shown that dogs can sense their owner’s return based on scent. When the owner’s scent in the home fades to a certain level, the dog begins to anticipate the return of their human friend, demonstrating an acute awareness of time through smell.
Tracks can also be used to study animal movements and distribution, and it is a fun thing to learn. Aside from determining which species footprints you are looking at, you can tell what the animal is doing by the gait of the tracks whether sprinting or sauntering, if it is alone or in a group, young or old, and even identify if the print is from a male or female if clear enough to measure.
Tracks can leave their mark for longer than snow lasts or for longer than it takes for the mud to dry up…. they can even last millions of years.
In the summer just passed, I revisited my old ranger patch in the North of Skye. I took my young child to see the fossilised dinosaur footprints along the coastline. They are amazing to see and experience. To stand on that big print with the realisation that a dinosaur had walked there and left its mark, now frozen in time, is special and quite incomprehensible.
What the dinosaur footprints tell us is very valuable and akin to what present day prints can tell us. Palaeontologists are also nature detectives, working out all sorts of things about the dinosaur’s behaviour from the remnants left behind. Dugald Ross, who runs the Staffin Dinosaur Museum in northern Skye, has made numerous internationally significant discoveries on the island. In recognition of his contributions and extensive work, he was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in science by Edinburgh University.
As much as I love seeing those dinosaur footprints, I get as much of a thrill to realise an otter had walked where I did this morning.
Insights like this morning’s otter tracks, create more questions than answers which is the very best and exciting part of being a naturalist, it feels like stumbling across treasure.
With so many elusive and nocturnal animals in our area, identifying tracks and signs offers a unique way to connect with the hidden wildlife around us. Every track tells a story! So why not step into the role of a nature detective, it’s an inspiring activity, whether for enjoyment, raising awareness, or contributing to conservation (through reporting your observations).
Next time you're out and about, take a closer look at the ground and your surroundings—you might just uncover the story behind those footprints.
Jenny Grant is a dedicated High Life Highland Countryside Ranger for Wester Ross, operating out of Ullapool Library. With a profound commitment to community engagement, Jenny concentrates her efforts on building connnection between the community and their natural environment. Her work is driven by an unwavering passion for the natural world, encompassing a broad spectrum of interests from local flora and fauna to broader ecological systems. Jenny views learning about the Highland's unique ecology as a lifelong journey, one that she enthusiastically shares with others. Her role not only involves conservation efforts but also educating and inspiring the public about the importance of preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Highlands.
If you are fascinated by otters or you would like to just find out more, join Jenny for her illuminating online talk:
The Life of Highland Otters
Monday, March 24 · 6:30 - 7:30pm GMT
Part of the Online Nature Talks collection
Follow the year of a Highland otter in this online illustrated talk about these elusive mammals, with naturalist and ranger Jenny Grant.
Excellent article, I'm always fascinated by animal tracks. Here in Edinburgh, we're very lucky to see otters quite frequently along the Water of Leith.
Though it is second hand, thank you for the reminder of the otters around us. Do you have a recommendation for a site or book that will show the tracks made by different animals?