Peterson Field Guide to Animal Tracks: 2nd ed.

398 Pages·1974·12.47 MB·English

by  Olaus J. Murie

A FielGdu idet o
AnimaTrla cks
J
,
THE PETERSONF IELDG UIDES ERIES®
Editebdy R ogerT ory Peterson
1B.i rd(se asteRr.T.n lP-eterson
1A.B irdS ong(se asteCronrln-eLlalb oratoofryO rnithology
2W.e steBrinr ds-T.R P.e terson
2A.W esteBrinr dS ongsCo-rneLlalb oratoofrO yr nithology
3 .Sh ellosfth eA tlanatniGdcu lCfo asW.t sI,n dies-Morris
4.B utter(fleiaesst eOrpnllea-rn dM alikul
5M.a mmal-Bsurta ndG rossenheider
6P.a cifiCco asShte l(lisn cluHdaiwnagi il-Morris
7R.o ckasn Mdi neraPlosu-gh
8B.i rdosBf r itaainnEd u rpoe-PetersMoonu,n tfoHrotl,l om
AnimaTrlac ks-Murie
190..F ern(sn ea.n dc eNn..A merical-Cobb
11.E asteTrrene s-Petrides
11ATr. ees aSnhdr ubs-Petrides
12.R eptilaensAd m phibia(nesa. ndc eNn..A merical-Conant
andC ollins
13.B irdosTf e xaasn Add jaceSntta st-eR.PT.e terson
14.R ockMyt .W ilfldowerCsr-aigheCarda,i gheaandd,D avis
15S.t arasn Pdl anetPsas-achoafnfdM enzel
16.W esteRrenp tilaensAd m phibianStse-bbins
17.W ildflow(enresa. n dn .-cNe.An m.e rical-PRe.teT.r saonnd
McKenney
18.B irdosft h eW esItn dies-Bond
19.I nse(cAtmse rincoahr toMfe xicoBlo-rroarn dW hite
20M.e xicBainr ds-T.R P.e terns aondC halif
21.B irdNse's t(se asoMtf i ssippsiRs iiverl-Harrison
22P. acifiSct atWeislfl dowerNsi-ehausa ndR ipper
23.E dibWliel Pdl an(tesa. n dc eNn..A mericalP-eLte.r son
24A.t lantSiecah osre-Gosner
25.W esteBrinr dNses't s-Harrison
26.A tmopsher-eSchafeera ndD ay
27.C orRaele f(sC aribbaenaFdnl oridKaalp-lan
28.P acifiCco aFsiths es-schmer,yHe eraladn,d H ammann
Beet-leshite E
2309M.o ths-CoWvell
31.. S ouhtwestearnnTed x asW ilfldowersN-iehauRsi,p pear,n d
Savage
32A.t lantCiocaF siths es-oRbinRsa,y ,a ndD ouglass J
WesteBrunt terflTiiledse-ann dS mith ,
3334.M. u shroomsMc-Knighatn dM cKnight
35.H awks-Clarakn dW heeler
36.S ouhteastearnndC aribbSeeaasnh ores-Kaplan
37.E coloogEfya steFronr estKrsi-chaenrd M orrison
38.B irdibnyEg a rE:a stearnnd C entrWaall-toann dL awson
AdvancBeidr dinKgau-fman
3490M..e diciPnlaaln tFso-stearn dD uke
41B.i rdibnyEg a rW:e stern-WalatnodnL awson
42.F rehswateFrih ses(N .A mericnaoh r toMf exicPoalg-ea ndB urr
43.B ackayrBdi rdS ongW-altoann dL awson
44W.e steTrrene s-Petrides
45E.c oloogWfye steFronr e-sKtrsichera ndM orrison
46V.e nomoAunsi malasnP do isonPoluasn tFso-setra ndC aras
THE PETERSONF IELDG UIDE SERIES®
A FielGdu idteo
AnimaTrla cks
OlauJs. M urie
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SecoEnddi tion
Sponsobyr tehNdea tioAnuadlu bSoonc iety
andt hNea tioWnialld Fleidfeer ation
HOUGHTON MIFFILNC OMPANY
BostoNne wY ork
EditoNro'tsce o pyrig1h97t4b yR oge'furry Peterson
Copyrig1h©9t4 5 b yO lausM urie
Copyrigrhetn e©w e1d9 82b yM aJr.g arEe.Mt u rie
SecoEnddi ticoonp y©r i©g 1h9t7b 4y M argarEe.Mt u rie
Allr ighrtess er.v ed
Fori nformaatbiooupnte rmistsoir oenp rodsueclee ctfrioomn s
thibso ok, toP ermissHiooungsh,tM oinffi iCno mpa,n y
215P awrirteAk v enuSeo utNhe,w Y orNke,w Y or1k0 003
and
PETERaSrOerFN eI gEiLsDGt tUerIraDedEdeS m aoPrfEHk TosEu RgShOtMFNoiI nffiE iLCnDGo UmIpDaEnS yE.R IES
LibraroyfC ongreCsast alogiinnP gu blicatDiaotna
MurieO,l auJso han1,8 89-1963.
A fieldg uidteo a nimatlr acks.
(TheP etersfieenl dg uidsee rie9s),
Bibliograpp.h3 y5:9
1.A nimalt racks2..Z oology-NorAtmhe rica.
3.Z oology--CentrAamle rica4.. A nimalHsa,b its
andb ehavioofr. I .T itle.
QL768.M871 974 591.5 74-6294
ISBN0 -395-19978-6I SBN0 -395-18323-5 pbk.
Printeidnt heU niteSdt ateosfA merica
24 23 22 21 20
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EditorN'ost e
WILD ANIMALSs harey a,n dt ryt oa voiuds . laAr pgeer centage
ofm ammalasr en octurvneanlt,u ring frdoemno snt lhayef itre r
darknheassfs a llWeen s.o metismeetesh eeiyre shiinnt eh eg lare
oft heh eadliagshw tesd rivdeo wnc ountry arton aidgshb tu,t
int hed aytitmheem osftr equseington fst hepirre seanrcteeh eir
trac-kisn t hes nowi,ns ando,ri nt hes ofmtu d.S ometimwees
findt hesicra tIsti. si mporttaon tab bel teor ecogntihzeets rea ils
ando thetrr acoefts h epirre sence.
Thivso lumfiet sw eliln ttoh eFi elGdu idsee rifeosir,t supple­
menttsh ev olumoenm ammalasn dt oa certaeixnt etnhteo nes
onb irdpsr,o vidtihneag m atenuart uralisatl st(oha epn rdo fes­
sionwaill dltiefceh niacnidab ni ologwiistthm) e aa nosf i dentify­
intgh wei ldlairfoeu hnidm e vewnh enh ec annsoetie t M.o reover,
iti sa bridge betthwee eonf i dentificaantdti hoens cience
art
ofe coloTghye.ri esa s tobreyh itnhdte r aciknts h sen oowr a long
theri veerd'gsae n ds tudmya yr evemaulc ha boutth e animal in
relattioio tnhs a bitat.
Thibso okt,h eo nlcyo mprehenosnieiv nie t csa tegocroyv,e rs
everym ammalf orw hicthr achkasv eb eeno btainienNd o rth
AmericMae,x icaon,dC entrAamle ri-can oto nltyh ec ommon
onesI.ta lso inclutdheisrb tioyrv dessro, m er eptialnedas f,e w
insectthse;ri esa sectioontn w igasn dl imbs anodn b oonnee
andh ornc hewinTgh.ea bundainltl ustraarteii nol nisn cee;r ­
taincloyl iosrn otn eescsary, becautsrea cakrsen otc olorNeodt.
onlayr et het racaknsd t raiplisc tuwrietdmh e asuremebnutts ,
scatarse s hownw,i tvha riatainodni sn, additioinsa tpheenr e
andi ndkr awionfeg a ch aniinim tahsla bit-aWth.e rpee CUliarities
oft het racakr en oto bvioiunts h ed rawitnhge ayr ed iscussed
int het ext.
OlauMsu riree minudssv ery mucho fa n earlimears ter,
ErnestT hompsoSne tonL.i keS etohne wasn oto nlya n
eminennatt uraalnidas nta ccolmipshweodo dsmbaunt aalfi snoe
artiasbtlt,eo i nteripnrp eetna ndi nk tthhien hgehs adw itnessed.
Dr.M uried'rsa winignts h is bwoeormkea dei nt hefi el,ed xcept
wherietw asi mpossihbeul see;md a teriinam lu seums zaonods
onlwyh enfi elsdp ecimweenrsue n obtainable.
DrM.u riwea sm ost haotm ei nt he wildaerrenoaesftss h Wee st.
TheR edR iverw i-tiht asn imawloso,d asn,d w ate-rsw ast he
v
vi EDITOR'NSO TE
bakcgruondo fh icsh ildhAofotdec.ro mplehtiiusnn gi verwsoirtky
inO regohnew entto H udsoBna yf otrw oy earasn dl atsepre nt
siyxe arisnA lasksat udyicnagr ibAoruc,t wiact erfaonwdlt ,h e
bioloogfty h eA laskPae ninsaunldta h e AleuItni1a 9n2sh7.e
movedt oJ ackson Hole, wWhyeortmehi ene gl,kb ecamteh e
subejcotf i ntenssitvuedR ye.s ignfirnogtm h eU nitSetda tFeiss h
andW ildlSiefrev iinc1 e94 6h eb ecamdei recotfTo hreW ilderness
Socieatnydl atietrps r esidMeondte.s atn dv ergyi ftOelda,u s
Muridee dicated thoti hse i dleioafflew ildernpersse servation.
Int hiFsi elGdu idhees harweidt oht hesrosm eo fh iksn owledge
andl ovoef t hen aturwaolr ld.
Int het wentyye arssi ntchee fi rsetd itiwoansp ublisthheedr e
havbee emn anyc hangiensn omenculraeTt.h isse coenddi tion,
comlpeterleys ehta,sa ttempttoeb dr inbgo tshc ienatnidfiv ce r­
naculnaarm eisn l inwei tchu rrepnrta ctiIcnae d.d ittihoenri,es
an ewi ndeaxn,d some minohra vcbehe aenng emsta hdreo ughout
thet extW.e arger atetfotu hle a uthowri'dso Mwa,r garMeutr ie,
fohre ra ssistainn acnes werqiunegs tiaonndis nr eadipnrgo oafn,d
tot hea uthobrr'ost hAedro,l pMhu rifeo,r khiinshd e lipns olving
probleomfns o menclature.
ROGERT ORYP ETERSON
1974
Acknowledgments
THISF IEDL GUIDEi sb aseadl mosetn tiroenlm yy ownfi eld
observaatnidot nhsec ollecotfpi loans ctaesrat nsd o themra terial
thahta sb eeans sembsliendc1 e92 1.
HoweveIrh ,a vael ssot uditehdee xtensmiavmem alilaint era­
turweh,i chha sb eeonf g reavta luaen,da bibliogroafsp ohmye
oft hilsi teraitsgu irveea ntt heen do ft hbe ookM.o reovIeh ra,v e
hadt hea ssistoafan n cuem beorfp ersonasn,dw ithotuhte hierl p
therweo ulhda vbee egna pisn m y information.
DrH.a rtlHe.Ty . J ackswoint,h whowma so In caes sociiant ed
theU niteSdt atFeiss ahn dW ildlSiefrev imcaen,y y earasg o
suggesttheadIt w rite as huacnhd boaonkd,I b egainna small
waya tt hatti me.
Mr.E rnesPt. W alkeArs,s istDainrte cotfot rh eN ationZaol­
ologiPcaarlik n W ashingDto.nCt,.o ,g etwhietrmh e mberosfh is
staaffn dt hes taofff t heW oodlaPnadr kZ ooi nS eattleo fa nd
the FleishhaocfSk aenFr r aZnocoih sacvaoel ble eonf m uchh elp.
With htehleop fa ttendaatnt thsle ast-nazmoemody s onM,a rtin
Murieo,b tainterda cokfst hej aguawrh,i cIh c ould hnaovte
obtaiontehde rwise.
Thee ntomoldoegpya rtmoefnt th eN ationMauls eumt,h e
UnitSetda tFeiss ahn dW ildlSiefrev iacnedt, h es taafft S equoia
NatioPnaarlhk a vael gli vemne a ssainscte.
Manyi ndividhuaavlfesu rnisvhaeldu ambaltee ritahlel: a te
FrancHi.As l leonfC ambridMgaes,s achusDertE.t. Ls .C; heatum
oft heN ewY orCk onservaDteipoanr tmeDnrt.C; . H. D. Clarke,
DepartmoefnL ta ndasn dF oresOtnst,a rAinot;o odneV osO,n ­
tariCoo lleogfeA gricultLuireeu;t enaanndt MrHs..H .J .
CochranCean,a Zlo neD;r J.a meZse teiknc, h arogfet here search
statiaotBn a rrCoo loraIdsol anCda,n aZlo n;e WarreGna rst,
DouglWayso,m inLgu;t hCe.rG oldmaTne,x aJso;h Kn. H oward,
whow,i thc o-orpaetioofnT heA mericMauns eumo fN atural
HistoorfNy e wY orkm,a dea vailtaobm leefi lmo nA rcthiacr es;
DrW.i lliam J. oHfaC moirlnteUolnnli vers;iW tiylliHaamn dley
oft heN ationMauls eumW;i lliNaamn carrAolwak,sa ;I vaRn.
TompkinGse,o rgiDar;. RobRearuts cohf t heP ublHieca lth
ServiAclea,s kEar;w iVne riotfyt heW altD isneSyt udiaonsd;
Dr.F ranNk. Y ounogf I ndiaUnnai versity.
My sonD onalldi ve-trcaeprptemadai mnm alfso srt udoyft heir
vii
x CONTENTS
WeaseFla mliyM:u stelidae 46
Shortt(aEmirlin e)L,o ngtaainldL, e asWte asels 46
Mink 53
Marten 57
Fisher 60
Tayra 62
Blacoko-tfeFde rret 63
Wolverine 65
RiverO tter 69
SeaO tter 74
StripSekdu nkSst:r ipHeodo,d eadn,dH ognose 77
SpotteSdk unk 80
Badegr 82
DogF amil:yC anidae 85
Dog 85
Wolf 91
Coyote 94
RedF ox 99
GrayF ox 103
Kito rS wifFto x 104
ArctFiocx 106
CatF ami:lF yelidae 109
DomestCiact 109
Bobcaotr W ildcat 113
Lynx 161
MountaLiino onr P uma 181
Jaguar 121
Ocelot 123
JaguarunCdatio rE yra 124
Sea:lP sinnipedia 125
HairS ea:lH sarboSre al
EaredS eal:sS eaL ion
Rodesn:tR odnetia 127
WoodcuhckY;e llowbaenldHl oya rMya rmots 127
PrairDioeg 137
GroundS quirrels 139
Chipmunk 144
RedS quirarnedlC hickaorreP ei nSeq uirrel 147
GrayF,o xa,n d TasselS-qeuairrerde ls 154
FlynigS quirrel 160
PockeGto pher 163
PockeMtou se 167
KangarRoaot a ndK angarMooou se 168
CONTENTS xi
Beaver 171
Muskrat 175
FloriWdaat eRra t 187
Porcupine 180
Aplodontia 187
Agouti 189
Paca 191
NorwaRya t 193
HousMeo use 193
JumpiMnogu se 196
Woodrat 199
White-foMootuesdoe r D eeMro use 202
GrasshopMpoeurs e 206
HarveMsotu se 207
Ricaen dC ottRoant s 209
MeadoVwo loer F ielMdo use 211
PinVeo lSea,g ebrVuoslhBe ,o gL emminagn,d R edback
Vole 219
Treea ndM ountaPihne nacomys 221
CollaarneddB rowLne mmings 225
Rabbaintd P ikFaa miliLeesp:o ridaOec haontdo nida2e3 1
ArctHiacr oer T undrHaa re 233
WhitetJaaiclk rabbit 235
BlacktaanidAl n teloJpaec krabbits 239
EuropeHaanr e 241
SnowshHoaer e 243
Cottontail 245
Marsahn dS wampR abbits 247
PygmyR abbit 249
Pikoar C ony 251
HoofeAdn imalUsn:g ulata 255
WhitetDaeielr 257
MuleD eer 263
BlacktDaeielr 268
Elk orW apiti 271
Moose 278
CaribaonudR eindeer 284
DomestPiicga ndW ilBdo ar 289
PeccaorrJy a velina 294
PronghoornrA ntelope 296
MountaSihne ep 300
DomestSihce ep 303
MountaGiona t 305
DomestGioca t 307
BisoonrB uffalo 308
xii CONTENTS
Muskox 312
DomestCiact tle 314
Horsae ndB urro 314
BairdT'asp ir 317
Birds 320
AmphibiaannsdR eptiles 337
Insecatns dO theIrn vertebrates 343
Twigs and Limbs 349
Bonea nd Horn Chewing 355
Biblriaopghy 359
Index 369