The winter season is an ideal time for being outdoors and exploring the local woods. Many mammals and birds are active during this time, including bobcat, coyote, deer, fox, rabbit, squirrel, chickadee, jay, turkey, and woodpecker.

Join us for an in-the-field winter animal tracking walk-and-talk hike at Burley Farms. The hike will be led by Nottingham resident Tom Eid. During the hike, you will learn common tracking terms as well as animal movement patterns. For example, mammals have four primary ways of moving: walking, waddling, hopping, and bounding.

A hand-out will be provided that explains mammal movement patterns, a listing of mammals active in winter, and foot print pictures of nine mammals active during the winter months at Burley Farms.

No animal tracking experience is needed for the hike. Steady rain/snow, icy trail conditions, or lack of snow will cancel the event. No pets, please.

Tom Eid is a certified naturalist with the Audubon Society, a Coverts Cooperator with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, a Land Steward for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and a Wildlife Steward for the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game.

He is an active volunteer for the New England Big Trees program, Nature Groupie, Bear-Paw Regional Greenways, and the Southeast Land Trust.

Difficulty: Easy 

The suggested donation for our Outreach Program is $5 per person and $10 per family - if you'd like, you can donate now or in person.