SNOW....I'll take two inches!
As you can see, we had more snow, so a New Year's Eve outing was mandatory! The sun was out and lit up the scene like a huge light bulb, with added warmth when away from the shore. I came to this spot on Western Reach and focused down on the Bath Tub (luxurious jacuzzi?!). My ears picked up the churning noise of a lobsterman going out to sea......to celebrate maybe? This is Keith Wallace who rarely misses a day, weather permitting. I talked to him recently and he has cut back his traps to 600. He used to have over 1000, but reducing the traps is a conservation effort. I should have gone back to learn his catch, in late afternoon. As it was, I went back to tracking animals and absorbing the beauty at every turn.

I was out at 8AM, trying to beat the hikers and their dogs. It was worth the effort since the tracks were readily found and not trampled upon. The most intriguing were those coming from, and going to, Joe's Head. I think there are two different animals (actually 3 since my tracks are to the left). Their tracks led over on the rocks and down to crevices.....which made me think mink! After nearly slipping into the ocean, I climbed back up over the snow covered rocks to follow the tracks as they led along the road north. One animal separated and continued undaunted all the way over to the Lily Pond with only short side tracks to lose the scent of fox. I really do believe there were fox out by the light of the moon. Their tracks were about 2 of my digits in width, and seemed to follow a scent and not meander like a dog. There were no human tracks other than mine, and that also makes a connection with dogs. If I see human tracks, I suspect dogs are making those canine tracks (with toenails imprinting). How many dogs would be out on a snowy night hunting? If the tracks were three digits wide, it would also be a coyote!

Anyway, the tracks led to a shoreline hole in the ice of the Lily Pond. That made me think, Muskrat! But would that animal have traveled all the way from Joe's Head? The tail and/or toe drag sure suggested a Muskrat. But there you are.......tracking is not a cut and dry activity. The snow has to be deep, but not too deep...the consistency has to be smooth (not flaky as it was today), and the nocturnal animals had to have time to browse after the snow stopped falling.

The Lily Pond was not completely frozen over, and I suspected the beaver had been out foraging for food by the light of the moon. I found some deer tracks, but none of their beds. If I had had more time, I would have followed their tracks to see where they waited out the storm or rested, leaving a hollow depression in the snow. I also found mouse tracks, and those of crows. I checked out the known holes where porcupine have set up housekeeping under latrines, and did see some tracks leading in and out, but they were not sharp imprints. I craned my neck to see if any had climbed trees for some breakfast, but missed seeing them. Again, if the tracks lead to a tree, they could be up there. It is the same with the squirrels that go from tree to tree.

So there you have my New Year's Eve outing.........I drink a toast to these animals that let me in on some of their secrets. 12/31/06 Wandering Ronnie.