Learning to Read The Wild and Preparing for Your Next Hike

When we take hikes in the woods there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of seeing and experiencing wildlife. Just because we don't see animals on our hikes doesn't mean we can't discover things about animals that live in the woods and what they are doing. City parks, beaches, and backyards are all filled with fascinating creatures. Here are a few ideas that can help make your next outdoor adventure more fun and exciting.

1)Early morning and early evening are the best times to see wildlife. Most animals are most active at the beginning and
end of the day. Planning your hikes during morning or dusk can increase your chances of seeing deer, raccoons, birds or
other wildlife.

2) Be quiet. Wild creatures have excellent hearing and they can hear every sound and see every movement. Yelling,
laughing, or screaming is sure to scare most animals away long before you get near. Walking quietly and keeping a sharp
lookout is the best way to spot that deer as it slips away.

3) Try to go hiking in small groups of 2 or 3. If you have a big group try splitting up. Sometimes the first group will stir up
an animal and the second group will get a chance to spot it as it tries to sneak behind the first group.

4) Look carefully in muddy areas or along streams for animal tracks. Many times the best signs showing and animals
presence are right at your feet, but you have to look carefully. Thinking about things to look for before you start walking
gives you something to concentrate on and keep a look out for.. Look for signs of spring. Look for toads and frogs. Try
to spot trees where woodpeckers have been at work, or look for old logs where maybe a bear has scratched around
searching for insects. Look in small trees for birds nests or maybe try to find a hole where a ground hog or fox has a
burrow. It's fun to keep a diary of your hikes and list the things you saw and the animals or birds you identified.

5) Bring flower identification guides, animal track guides, or a bird field guide. Sometimes you'll get a good look at a new
bird such as a mountain bluebird or pileated woodpecker and it's fun to figure out what it is. Animal tracks are easy to
identify and sometimes tracks can tell a story. Mouse tracks followed by a fox track would tell a hunting tale.
Wildflowers are fun and sometimes challenging to try and identify. Learning the names of flowers will help you identify
plants that may be edible or make a nice dye or tea.

6) Bring binoculars for looking closer at birds and scanning the fields and clearings for deer. A magnifying glass can be a
great thing to have for close inspection of insects, flowers, moss, and tree bark. Bring a camera and experiment with
different positions to take photographs from. Try some pictures laying down at bugs eye level, or get up on a stump and
shoot some pictures pointing down. Maybe just the clouds and nothing else would make a good picture.

AND Most Importantly for safety!
Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to get back. Leave a map with someone that shows where you are going and what your route is. Get a comfortable small knapsack to carry a water bottle, extra food, and a raincoat just in case the weather gets bad. A small flashlight can be handy in emergencies and a small first aid kit with dry matches should always be carried. A whistle can help in the event you get lost, and remember to go downstream and don't panic or run wild if you think you are lost.

Next month I'll talk about how to keep from getting lost in the woods and what to do if you do.

For information on Camp Earth guided wilderness hikes, kayaking tours, kids art workshops, or the Bonfire Extravaganza visit Camp Earth..

Pictures by Crede Calhoun, visit Scenic Views Studio to see some posters featuring Crede's photography.

A bug's eye view
Looking for tracks in the muddy ruts of an abandoned road.
Luna moth caterpillar
Can you find the raccoon & turkey tracks?
Can you guess what animal made these tracks?