Discover the secrets life of wildlife by following in their tracks

In a flash my two elder sons vacated their pup tent and dived into the larger family tent. Shivering with fright, their wide eyes peering into the gloom, they refused to believe that dreadful roar could have come from one of those cuddly koalas they had seen during the day. I must confess that even though I knew what the noise was it seemed my hair had forgotten and stood on end for several moments. 

Next morning I showed them fresh koala tracks in the sandy ground. Following the tracks we found the tree the koala had climbed and, sure enough, swaying high in the branches was a large male koala. From that point on my three boys became entranced with tracking. 

I once showed them a sandy creek bed smoothed by a night’s rain. The sand was like a fresh palate, wiped clean of all previous tracks. In a wide, flat area of the creek we found the sand torn by many kangaroo tracks. Fur lay here and there, testimony of a fight, and I told them of the time I watched such a fight as would have occurred on that creek-bed. Two males were trying to assert their right to a female ’roo.

 They raked each others bellies with the long, sharp toes of their rear legs, prancing about to gain an advantage and sometimes even clasping one another as if in some strange dance. All the while a joey jumped about, sparring with his fore-paws like an over-excited boxing fan emulating his hero.

 Further along the creek we found a Bronzewing pigeon. After it took flight we examined its tracks and saw it had been selecting grit from where running water had sorted sand and grit into various sizes. The pigeon need the grit, I explained, to help digest the hard seeds of the wattle tree and others seeds it liked. I told them how birds were the descendants of the dinosaurs, and how their hip-joints are still the same configuration as their ancient ancestors. We had a good laugh at the thought of a pigeon with teeth.

After my boys had grown up and made tracks of their own my interest in tracking continued. Most creek beds will hold tracks, especially after rain. But there are many places tracks can easily be seen. Unsealed roads are good spots as traffic continually wipes out old tracks leaving fresh ground for new wildlife imprints.

On a recent trip to Western Australia we found wild camel tracks where a number of them had wandered along the remote track we were following.

Upon examination we deduced the tracks were made only that morning as the only track of any kind over the top of the camel tracks was made by a tiny gecko. We soon found the gecko, sunning himself in the early morning light.

The camels we finally caught up with several kilometres along the track. They were a wonderfully healthy looking group of one male and two females. They were not much perturbed by our presence and seemed quite curious, peering over low mulga trees at us as we peered back. Recognising their tracks were fresh and tracking them down led to the wonderful experience of meeting our first wild camels.

Tracking is about being observant as much as anything. You can often tell whether the animal is in a hurry, or just ambling along.

A kangaroo will leave only the marks of their rear feet when travelling. When feeding, or just moving slowly, they will leave both rear and fore-paw marks; often they will drag their tail along the ground leaving a snake-like mark. But you know it isn’t a snake when the tail mark disappears as the kangaroo hops away.

As snakes rarely cross ground that will take a track, preferring the cover of grass and bushes, it is hard to find their tracks. Don’t confuse other tracks with a snake track. Lizards, especially a goanna or perentie, will leave a snake-like trail by dragging its tail. The trick is to spot their tell-tale footprints either side of their tail drag. The size of their footprints is also a good indication of the reptile’s size. If they are extremely large I would recommend heading in the opposite direction.

While walking through wilderness in WA we saw a flock of wild goats in the distance. The flock seemed unduly agitated but so great was the distance we could not see why.

Arriving at the spot after the goats had gone Cheryl spotted the reason for their agitation. Dingo tracks were clearly outlined amongst the goats. A dingo had been trying to cut an animal from the flock. It was all there, imprinted in the ground for us to see, the goats frantically wheeling this way and that to face the danger; the dingo, darting and weaving, as it strove to find a weak or young goat it could wear down.

We didn’t find any sign that the dingo succeeded, but later we did see sign that another predator ate well.

On a sandy creek there were rabbit tracks overlaid by those of a fox. Both were in a tearing hurry. Both sets of tracks were deeply embedded in the sand. Both showed claw marks, claws that both animals keep sheathed, like a cat, until needed. It was a race the rabbit lost. Only a little way out from the creek clumps of grey fur on the sun dried grass testified to the hunter’s success and the rabbit’s demise.

Reading tracks to the point where you can identify the creature that made them is not hard. Tracking that creature to the point where you can sight it is a little more difficult. You have to be able to establish how old the tracks are. Ask yourself what was the animal doing. Was it feeding? Returning to its home? You have to know a little about its habits, and its habitat, before you can be successful at following any creature’s tracks. If its tracks disappear you have to be able to think like the animal to be able to pick its tracks up again farther along.

Spotting and identifying the tracks of wild creatures is fun. Children are fascinated by tracking, especially if you can elaborate on the animal’s tracks with a story or information on the animal’s way of life. This helps everyone concerned to appreciate the immense variety of our unique wildlife.