Spending time up north with my brother-in-law, Steve, is like having one's own personal nature guide. He points out animal tracks and (I assume) correctly identifies them. He can recognize a hawk when it's a mere speck in the sky. He can even distinguish raccoon poop from skunk poop. When I'm with Steve, I feel closer to nature. It makes me realize that I've lived in the city too long, and have probably missed out on some very neat stuff.
Which brings me to a childhood fantasy I had. I wanted to be like Disney's Snow White, not because I'm especially into dwarves, but because I wanted all the woodland creatures to be fearless of me. I wanted birds to land on my shoulder and sing in my ear, and bunnies to rest at my feet. I believed that if animals loved you, then you must be a nice person.
I no longer have that fantasy, well, not very often. I suppose I'll have to settle for a domesticated cat who occasionally comes when I call.
Anyway, back to animal tracks. Can you identify the one in the picture?
Image courtesy of OpenCage
8 comments:
Those look like loggerhead turtle tracks on the beach.
Congrats, nt! I thought they looked a bit like tire tracks, but then, I don't live near a beach, nor have I ever seen a loggerhead turtle.
Raggs and I got to swim with a Pacific green when we were snorkeling in Hawaii. Look how big they are! We stayed a respectful distance away, since it's illegal to touch them, and because we didn't want to disturb such a wonderful creature.
Well, I can see where I was confused--they're as big as tires! Actually, now that you mention Hawaii along with the turtles, I realize that I did see them when I snorkled there about 15 years ago. Thanks for the link.
Huh. I was going to go with "dune wrecking rednecks." I definitely prefer the turtles. (And I had the same fantasy: I wanted a little animal friend to perch on my shoulder and sing in my ear. Preferably a bird and not, like, an elephant.)
When I was a kid, I would've settled for the elephant.
Those are sea turtle tracks, but not loggerheads. Loggerheads have alternating gait, and comma-shaped rear flipper tracks. These are green or leatherback tracks. Hard to tell the size from the photo. I am leaning toward green, but I could be wrong.
Hi Christy -- Thanks for the correction!
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