There is nothing more exciting than a walk after a fresh snowfall or tracking footprints in fresh mud near the EcoFrontiers Ranch. Every day you will have new opportunity to find evidence of the activities of the deer, hare, wild boar, Beaver, fox and mice but maybe also wolf or bear who have recently visited.

Wildlife tracking includes collecting both direct evidence, such as paw prints and scats (animal droppings), and indirect evidence, such as tooth marks, hair, and trails. The more dependable and varied the evidence, the more certain you can determine what species of animal made the tracks. Often, it's also possible to ascertain what the animal was doing at the time the track imprints were left. For example, the signs may indicate whether the animal was walking, trotting, running, or foraging.

There are many excellent field guides and resources available to help you recognize the basic imprints or scats that common animals in the area might leave, but it is only through practice and repetition that you will be able to easily unravel the wildlife interactions that are played out each day.

At the Eco-Frontiers Ranch you will have also opportunity for starting collection of plaster tracking casts. Basically it involves mixing a batter of water and plaster of paris and applying it into a set of tracks. Depending on temperature and moisture conditions, this mixture will become firm in a few minutes. When complete, you have an excellent study piece to use as you hone your tracking skills as well as show your friends. For beginning trackers, local mud flats make excellent sites to practice making plaster casts. The casting of tracks in snow is a little more difficult, but with practice, you can make some excellent casts.

Prices of guided wildlife tracking are calculated per hour and are subject of individual agreements.