Can
you identify what's in this photo?
Each Wednesday morning
on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page
the Lutherlyn Environmental
Education Program posts a photo.
Readers
have all morning and afternoon
to
make their best guess about what the photo is.
Around
6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.
Each
week's What is it Wednesday post
will
also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog,
after it is posted on Facebook,
sometimes
with additional bonus information.
In
addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday
on the
Nature of Lutherlyn blog,
we
will be reposting old editions,
creating
a What is it Wednesday archive.
This
photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on
February 12, 2020.
And
the answer is....
These are the tracks of muskrat, seen along the edge of the
frozen Upper Lake.
Muskrat are what’s known as imperfect walkers, which means
that they do not put their back paw directly in the imprint made by their front
paw, but near it or alongside it. This gives their track a “2x2” look – two
prints next to each other, instead of a straight line of what looks like single
prints.
Muskrats also have a narrow tail that hangs low as they walk, leaving a
tail drag mark in surfaces like snow.
In addition, muskrats are active in the winter and live along the edges of lakes, ponds, and rivers, so their known habitat matches where these tracks were found. This track actually
led up to a small burrow just a short distance back from the edge of the water,
confirming that it was most likely made by a muskrat. It was neat to be able to
use the track to find the den!
For more on how LEEP can help you identify the tracks and
other animal signs in the forest, through field trips, Saturday Safaris, summer
camp, special events and more, check out www.Lutherlyn.com/ee.
Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on
Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when
they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!
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