Tracks in the snow have a tale to tell

I have lost my muse today, so I just thought I’d post some interesting photos. This morning I saw a bunch of footprints in the snow in front of the kitchen window. Clearly something happened.

A flurry of footprints
A flurry of footprints

Here’s a slightly closer view.

Closer up of the center of the action. I don't know what's in the middle there. I imagine it's what's left of someone's dinner.
Closer up of the center of the action. I don’t know what’s in the middle there. I imagine it’s what’s left of someone’s dinner.

Here, I’ve labeled the tracks I recognized.

Some of the clearest tracks labeled.
Some of the clearest tracks labeled.

The study of tracks and trackways left by animals is called ichnology. Yes, people make a career of this kind of work. So, put on your ichnologist hat. What do you think the story is here?

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Published by paleololigo

Scientist (Paleontology, Geochemistry, Geology); Writer (Speculative and Science Fiction, plus technical and non-technical Science); Mom to great boy on the Autism spectrum; possessor of too many hobbies.

1 Comment

  1. Dave H's avatar Dave H says:
    February 3, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    That’s definitely rabbit on the left. Moving briskly toward the top of the photo but I don’t think in full flight. I think the clusters of tracks would be farther apart if he was beating feet out of there. On second thought (after seeing your scale is 10 cm), maybe he wasn’t moving that quickly.

    I see only one set of squirrel/chipmunk tracks. (I’m guessing chipmunk – looks like about 2 cm between feet.) The cat probably got him. Hard to see in the photo but it doesn’t look like a lot of blood at the scene of the crime. I’m thinking he was killed there and dragged off. That might explain the long gouges in the snow above the photo center.

    That’s my take anyway. I haven’t done tracking in a while.

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