GOOD
Conservation
Arizona’s Tracks and Signs A window into the biodiversity around us
W
BY CANNON WINKLER
Wildlife tracking can be a window into the past. Similar to reading a guest log at a hotel you can learn who was here before you, when they arrived, and where they were going.
Jaguar caught drinking. Photo courtesy of the University of Arizona Jaguar and Ocelot Monitoring Project - Citizen Scientists
The track of the right front paw of a bobcat with other faint tracks around it. Photo by Cannon Winkler.
Tracking doesn’t have to be about stalking animals through the woods. It can simply be about expanding your awareness of what is going on around you. Learning the footprints of common wildlife in your area can be extremely rewarding whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or an occasional hiker.
When most people think of Arizona, they tend to think of dry heat, cacti, and the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, “biodiverse” doesn’t usually come to mind, although perhaps it should. According to NatureServe, Arizona ranks as the third most biodiverse state in the U.S. Despite low rainfall, this “barren” state boasts a variety of life that will surprise even many of its long-time residents.
After grasping the basics of tracking, you may be surprised how a quiet hiking trail suddenly becomes full with signs of life. Where before, perhaps you saw only rocks and plants, now you may see evidence of a sauntering bear, foraging javelinas, or an owl swooping down to catch a rodent – all of this is written in the sand. Learning to identify tracks can reveal the astounding diversity of life that exists out of human sight yet right under our noses. This is especially true in Arizona.
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GREEN LIVING
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greenlivingmag.com
Arizona is home not only to mountain lions and bobcats, but also to the jaguar and ocelot. The Grand Canyon state is the only state in the country with four different species of wildcat according to the University of Arizona Jaguar and Ocelot Monitoring Project, an initiative to monitor these cats in the wild. In the recent past, jaguars ranged from the Mexican border all the way to the Grand Canyon. However,
