TRR photo by Sandy Long Fragments of black walnut shells were left on the manmade structure depicted in the accompanying photo. Grey squirrels tend to leave more ragged evidence of their meals than red squirrels or chipmunks.

Mysterious middens

By SANDY LONG

Animals leave many indications of their activities and whereabouts. For those with an interest in tracking and observing wildlife, animal sign is significant. In tracking lingo, the term “sign” is used to describe all evidence of an animal’s passage except for tracks imprinted by an animal’s feet on a surface.

Some examples of sign are droppings, remains of food, den and nest sites, forest trails, chewing marks and claw marks. Ample evidence of the approaching winter can be found as squirrels, chipmunks and many other mammals prepare for the leaner months ahead.

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