Carnivore Tracking Expedition in the Red Wolf Recovery Area
Even in wildlife-rich areas, it can be hard to see the animals themselves — especially if they are notoriously elusive species. Luckily, it can sometimes be just as magical to know that you are standing where a red wolf stood mere hours before. Sue Morse, wildlife biologist and director of Keeping Track, taught us how to look at the land differently and see signs of wildlife in unexpected areas. Connecting to the landscape and the wildlife we are trying to protect is important, and during this hike we proved that people and animals can coexist. One participant thanked us afterwards for “illuminating the richness of the landscape of the Refuge, of any landscape, if only we knew what to look for.” Below we’ll take you through the sights and signs we found in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
A great blue heron (Ardea herodias) hunts for breakfast along the agricultural field drainage ditches in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (top left). On our scouting mission Friday, we found several tracks, including this huge hind foot track from an American black bear (Ursus americanus) (top right). The mud made for an excellent substrate to capture tracks, like these canid prints (bottom). These tracks were found in the same location as several other species, including American black bear, gray fox, rabbit, and opossum.
Nearly every log we passed was full of sunbathing water turtles, enjoying one of the first warm days of spring (top). Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has many different species of turtle, including the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and the river cooter (Pseudemys concinna). We found eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) tracks nearly everywhere in the refuge (bottom left). Early in the 20th century, hunting pressure and habitat loss caused a massive decline in wild turkey populations, however the species is now a conservation success story and is again prolific throughout the U.S! Where there’s turkey, there’s usually bobcat; Sue points out the characteristic rounded, asymmetrical toe prints in a bobcat (Lynx rufus) track found near an area with plenty of wild turkey activity (bottom right).
A luna moth (Actias luna) rests on a trail sign at the beginning of the Sandy Ridge wildlife trail, at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Sue Morse demonstrates how an American black bear (Ursus americanus) uses its powerful teeth and jaws to leave a calling card on a road sign post in Alligator River NWR (top left). The group of student trackers fans out alongside Sue Morse to search for wildlife sign on a dirt road in Alligator River NWR (top right). Ben Prater, Defenders’ Southeast Program Director, assists in showing off samples of scat found by the group (bottom). The scat on the left was “placed” strategically on the log by its owner, to increase the likelihood that other wildlife would find it. Scat and other types of sign is often used by wildlife as a communication tool.
Sue Morse explains to the group how an American black bear (Ursus americanus) would use a large pine tree to leave scent marks, while a student tracker demonstrates (left). Sue Morse explains how a female American black bear (Ursus americanus) would use a small pine tree to let other bears know she’s ready to breed (right).
Sue Morse demonstrates how a bobcat (Lynx rufus) would create a scrape in the pine straw (top left). A bobcat scrape found in the pine straw along a well-used wildlife trail (top right). Sue Morse addresses the group while out looking for wildlife signs (bottom left). A road sign in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge that has been marked by an American black bear (Ursus americanus) (bottom right).
Rarely seen in the flesh, we found reminders that the critically endangered red wolves (Canis rufus) call Alligator River NWR home. These graceful wild canids, which only number in the forties today, often hunt in agricultural fields on the refuge, preying upon small mammals that feed on the crops.
- Heather
