Mysteries in the Snow

Copyright © 2003 Riveredge Nature CenterP.O. Box 26, Newburg, WI 53060.

262-375-2715 (metro) or 262-675-6888(local)All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced without permission from Riveredge Nature Center.

riveredgeNATURE CENTER

Playing an instrument...

taking pictures, and

drawing are all skills that take time, patience, and practice to develop.

Observing is also a skill that takes time, patience and practice to develop.

It requires the careful use of all your senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.

Once you have observed carefully you should be able to form an inference, a conclusion about what might have happened.

To do this you will need to add your thinking ability and your observation skills together.

What season was it?

Were there leaves on the trees?

What habitat was shown?

What animal did you see?

Was the animal big or small?

Was the animal on the ground or in a tree?

Was the animal standing or sitting?

What did you just observe?

Look again.

What things can you observe

now that you have more time?

The next slide will again test your skills of observation.

What animal was in the tree?

What color was the animal?

Was the tree dead or alive?

Is there only one animal who has been using that tree?

What did you observe?

Here it is again.

What else can you observe?

Planning for your visit to Riveredge and the time you spend there will help increase your observational skills and your ability to draw conclusions from what you see.

Two important characteristics of detectives are patience and the ability to observe very carefully. To solve a mystery they

A detective has the job of carefully observing clues to solve mysteries.

need to carefully observe the clues and then use these clues to develop a solution or form a good inference.

Inferences are an explanation of events

based on careful observation.

Use what you observe in the next slide to develop

explanations (inferences) for the mysteries that are

presented.

You will need to use your brain power to arrive at the

solutions.

Look and think, do not guess!

What can you observe in this slide?

Using your observation skill, what do you think made the tracks on the hill?

What winter “sports” can you think of?

From your careful observations what more can you say about this picture?

What inferences can you make?

What winter “sport” could leave this pattern of tracks behind?

Are the tracks made from one or two skiers?

(Two)

Which person used the hill first? The person going up or the person coming down?

(The straight track goes over the “V” track--so the person going up the hill was first.)

As a detective “on the trail” at Riveredge you need to know what types of clues to look for. There are an endless number of mysteries to be solved. The pieces of the story left on the landscape are there for you to puzzle out. What types of clues will you look for at Riveredge to explain what animals

are active during the winter and what they are doing?

Tracks are some of your best clues. Tracks can take you places or...

...be a hint of where you were.

Tracks are an animal’s signature on the land.

Describe the shape of this track.

How many toes does it have?

(Four)

Can you observe any toenails?

Which direction was this animal moving?

(Towards the top of the page)

How do you know?

When you are looking at a track notice its size and shape. Look for toes, toenails, and possibly for marks left in the snow by the animal’s tail. Try to imagine the size of the animal that made the tracks.

Animals do not often leave behind clear, easily identifiable tracks.

It is important to look at the pattern of tracks that form the trail in order to identify the source of the track. Animals are not eager to use lots of energy, so most of the time they walk or shuffle about. Most of the tracks you find will be at the animal’s slowest gait. Remember, the track patterns change as the animal’s activities change. There are three general track patterns to look for.

Walkers, whose tracks often

appear in a single line...

...such as a fox.

Who do you think made these tracks?

A Duck?

Actually, it is made by a gull.

Can these gull tracks help you think of one word to describe how this animal moves?

We use the word--Waddles

A second track pattern is waddler.

Waddlers, whose tracks often appear with one front foot and one hind foot paired together...

...such as a raccoon.

Bounders create yet another track pattern. Their tracks appear as a repeated set (in pairs)...

...such as a rabbit.

Describe these tracks.

Describe their shape.

How many fingers/toes are there?

(There are Five toes. )

Are toenail marks visible in the track?

Based on your observations, are these tracks from the front or hind feet?

An animal’s body structure, its method of gathering food, and its behavior will determine its pattern of movement and the resulting tracks.

Can you see where the animal’s toes are?

The toes “point” out the direction the animal was traveling.

Which direction was this animal traveling?

The animal was traveling towards the bottom of the page.

Is this animal a walker, bounder, or a waddler?

It is a Waddler.

What might have made these tracks?

It is a Raccoon.

The waddler itself. This raccoon’s body is chunky and low to the ground. Would it be good

at stalking its prey-- like a fox?

Notice the general pattern created by these tracks.

From your observations is this animal a walker?

A bounder?

Or a waddler?

These tracks may be familiar to you. Do you have enough information from your observations to make an inference as to who might have made the tracks?

Hint: This animal cautiously stalks its prey. It feeds on both plants and animals.

This is the animal that

made the tracks.

How many feet does this animal have?

(Four.)

Can you notice any toenail marks visible in the track?

Which set of feet are smaller?

(Their front feet are the smaller ones.)

Why do you think the back feet tracks are above the front feet tracks?

Which direction is it traveling?

(Towards the right side of the screen.)

Is this woodland animal a walker? A bounder? Or a waddler?

It is a bounder.

This trail was made by the same animal.

Where does it begin?

Where does it end?

What could have happened to the animal that made the trail?

What animals are climb trees?

Who do you think made this trail?

Yes, it is a squirrel!

Tracks can lead you to more clues to the mystery.

Many animals can be easily identified by the clues they leave behind.

Animals are adapted with special tools to construct their homes.

The size, shape, and location of the home are some of the clues that help us infer what particular animal made the

home.

What was the shape of the animal home you just saw?

How big was it?

Where was it located?

How high was it?

What animals could use the hole in the tree as a home?

What special tool does this animal have to make that hole in the tree?

What other tools does it have that are also clues that the home belongs to the woodpecker?

How did it get to the tree?

How does it stay on or in the tree?

What made this pattern in the snow?

Is the animal underground or above ground?

(It is Underground)

What size do you think the animal is?

Who do you think made the pattern in the snow?

Does this help you?

Evidence of animal homes and shelters are good

clues to identify the type of animal.

Every piece of gnawed vegetation is a clue left by an animal feeding.

What can you infer about the animal

or animals that were eating here?

They are hungry.

This sapling is a good source of food. This animal’s teeth are specially designed to eat this type of food source.

Animal scat, the waste products that result after an animal digests its food, is a clue that can help you determine what animals are living.Bits of its food may still remain in the scat as a clue of what was for lunch. This is deer scat.

You are now beginning to develop an eye for seeing - really seeing. Practice observing, then practice some more, and then practice even

more. Examine all the clues carefully before drawing your conclusions. To truly test your abilities see if you can solve these last mysteries.

Whose eye is this?

It is an Owls.

What happened here?...what else occurred?

The maker herself.

Make an inference as to how the backsides of the individuals

sitting on the benches must have felt during their program.

What made these tracks?

What was the sequence of events as shown in the slide?

What was the vehicle’s path of travel?

There are two other sets of tracks in this picture. Do you see them? You have already seen the animal(s) in previous slides. Do you

know who made these tracks. One set of tracks was made by a fox and the other by a rabbit. Which animal made which set of tracks?

What happened here? Who left their tracks behind?

Who are the two animals involved in this mystery? Who made dinner out of whom?

Congratulations!

You are now ready to discover the mysteries found at Riveredge Nature Center.

But there is one more very important thing to consider. Dress warmly for your visit. We will be outside the entire time! You will need to wear lots of clothes.

What pieces of outer clothing are the children in this picture missing?

You’ll need a whole pile of clothes just as you see here. Dressing in layers is a good idea. This traps air which will keep you warmer. Often it is better to dress in 3 thinner layers of clothing than one thick layer. The layers of air trapped by

those clothes and warmed by your body will insulate you from the cold.

Do not forget long underwear.

Flannel pajamas are a good substitute if you do not have any of your own.

A couple pairs of socks inside of your boots are

important also.

Leave your tennis shoes at home!

Remember, layers are important!!

Remember your observation skills!!

Hat on your head and mittens on your hands, and you are ready to go!

See you at Riveredge!