Tracks and scat may be the most common signs of PEI wildlife, but they are not the only ones. Other examples include dens, nests, cavities, caches, browse, and this very cool adaptation: eyeshine.   Not all animals have eyeshine, but those that do have a special membrane called the tapetum lucidum (Latin for bright tapestry) behind the retina – the light-sensitive part of the eye. Light passes through the retina and is reflected off the tapetum lucidum back to the light sourc

Whether it’s the potential for Bobcats here on PEI or reports of Eastern Cougar on the mainland, wild cats have a mystique that makes many of us want a track to be Feline. This, coupled with how feline some canine tracks look, means Dog tracks are sometimes mistaken for Cat even by experienced trackers. Let’s look at the differences.   As we saw earlier this month, canine tracks have an X-shaped negative space – that area between the pads of the foot; I’ve included my earlie

It’s breeding season for PEI’s wild canines, meaning foxes and coyotes are more active right now. Even if you haven’t seen (or heard) any in your neighbourhood, tracks will tell you who’s been around. Here’s my annual refresher on identifying fox, coyote, and dog tracks. You can check the Wildlife Tracks & Sign section of this blog for previous posts and additional photos of the features I look for.   Too often, I see one-word answers to track ID questions online that are rea

One of my favourite things about winter tracking is coming across a wildlife intersection: a spot used by a variety of animals. Often...

Whether it’s the potential for Bobcats here on PEI or reports of Eastern Cougar on the mainland, wild cats have a mystique that makes...

Happy New Year and welcome back to my Wildlife Tracks & Sign series. Each week for the next few months, we’ll look at how to identify...