Winter Wildlife: Tracking the Hidden Creatures of the Woodland

Hello and welcome to this week's Wildlife Matters podcast.

And today we're heading out to explore a local woodland, searching for clues and following tracks in the snow to find out which wild animals live there.

Sounds of nature are a big part of how we experience different wildlife habitats.

This week we ask you to join us for Wildlife Matters and mindful moments as we walk through a snow covered woodland.

But first, let's check out some of the wildlife and nature stories that have caught our attention in this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News.

Hello and welcome to this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News.

It's been another busy week for wildlife and nature and we start with a warning from the Wildlife Trust about the nature and climate crisis that Britain is facing.

This week the Wildlife Trust have raised concerns about the climate and nature crisis in Britain.

Floods, droughts, record heat and ongoing species decline show how vulnerable the UK's relationship with nature has become.

However, the Office for Environmental Protection warns that the government is largely off track, making it essential the UK prioritises meeting its commitments and upholding environmental targets is a legal necessity.

Despite 93% of a wildlife Trust survey respondents seeing nature loss and climate change as major threats, the government continues to weaken safeguards.

Protecting nature supports our economy and keeps us safe.

It helps prevent floods, secure water supplies and supports food production.

Undermining nature puts everything at risk.

The UK government must support nature friendly farmers and restore rivers, lakes and streams.

To build resilience against the climate crisis.

Improving soil health, growing trees, creating habitats.

Buffering rivers and restoring peat soils can.

All enhance water systems and reduce runoff.

But farmers and landowners need proper financial support and advice.

Given these considerations, the government must treat nature and climate crisis as the most significant long term threat to all economic growth.

And with elections this year in Scotland and Wales and the local elections in England, millions of voters will consider nature when they vote.

Responding to this momentum, the government can address the demand for stronger environmental action by reflecting on recent debates.

But blaming nature is misguided.

Economic growth and nature recovery can go hand in hand.

Addressing this misconception is essential.

Embedding nature recovery into our economic plans allows us to confront the challenges posed by climate change, development and housing needs.

Strong leadership and clear, enforceable regulations are needed to provide businesses with the certainty and to encourage innovation.

For example, planning reforms must integrate green spaces into housing and ensure major projects do not harm protected sites and species.

Properly enforced regulation will provide certainty for business and continue to drive innovation.

Despite these needed reforms, there is a risk of more anti nature policies to come.

Weakening the habitats regulations, which protect key wildlife sites, would put species such as otters and dolphins at risk and threaten places such as the New Forest and the Thames Estuary.

The Wildlife Trusts urged the government to act now by enacting immediate and bold measures for nature recovery.

Demand that all legal commitments be fulfilled and that recent setbacks be reversed immediately.

This is essential for the secure and.

Prosperous future of the uk.

People should press leaders at every level to ensure these actions happen.

Take action now.

Petition policymakers for nature friendly reforms, monitor progress towards nature recovery, actively hold leaders accountable and advocate for policies that protect the next generation's future, which is nature.

Our second story this week follows the release of a video which shows a golden eagle easily spotting mountain hares in their white winter coats against the snowless green and brown highland slopes.

And people are again worried that mountain hares in the Highlands face more danger from predators because their white coats stand out when there is no snow.

Scottish mountain hares are not adapting to climate change, leaving them more exposed to predation.

In response to this issue, conservationists and researchers are exploring ways to support these hares adaption processes.

Projects include habitat management trials designed to provide better cover on snowless days and studies on genetic factors that might aid in adaption efforts.

Such initiatives aim to help mountain hares adapt to the changing environment whilst maintaining ecological balance.

When snow starts to fall, mountain hares begin shedding their dark fur, usually in late October, and slowly growing a white winter coat.

This color change will last until around mid March, which helps them to blend into a snowy landscape.

But mountain hares in Scotland are not changing the timing of when they start or finish moulting to match the increasing number of snowless days.

As a result, their white fur is visible on dark hillsides outside the period when snow is usually present.

Some animals in northern areas have changed their shedding patterns to adapt to the changing climate.

However, a study found that mountain hares in Scotland are not changing the timing of their moult, so they have poor camouflage for about 35 more days every.

Year compared 60 years ago.

Of similar sites in Scotland.

The research team, led by Dr. Marquita Zimova of the University of Michigan also looked at more than 60 years of weather data.

And according to their study in Proceedings of the Royal Society, they found a.

Big drop in the number of snow.

Days over that time.

Other research shows that some animals can change their appearance during moulting to adapt to climate change because losing their camouflage makes them much easier for predators to see.

In North America, Snowshoe hares survived 7 to 14% less often each week when their fur did not match their surroundings.

Mountain hares in Norway also faced more predation when their fur color did not match the landscape.

Even though there is a strong evolutionary pressure for animals to adapt to less snow, the scientists did not find a shift in the timing of moulting in mountain hares in Scotland.

Scott Newey of the James Hutton Institute, a co author of the study, told Wildlife, the fact that mountain hares are not adapting the timing of their moult is really quite surprising.

It could be that the mountain hare.

Population lacks the genetic diversity to adapt, or that the change in the snow.

Light is just too rapid for them.

We always hope to finish with a positive and an uplifting story.

And this week we are excited to share that the UK is now one step closer to reintroducing elk.

A new conservation plan.

That's right, Britain may soon see more elk as these majestic animals move closer to a possible return.

Elk once roamed Britain's forests, but they.

Were hunted to extinction around 3,000 years ago.

But now a rewilding project is looking to bring them back.

The plan is to first introduce elk into large natural enclosure to help them adjust with this phase likely stock starting after assessment.

Later phases will schedule the release into the Idle Valley Nature Reserve which will be fenced to study the elk and prevent them from entering the River Trent and the Idle floodplains in North America.

The moose is a close relative of the European elk.

Their return could help local ecosystems as their grazing opens up the forest floor that in more light and helps many different plants to grow.

In short, elk are like eco warriors, just with impressive antlers.

Since the elk Rewilding project in Nottinghamshire was announced last year, local people have shown interest in seeing these large deer.

Return to the local woodlands.

There will be extensive disease related testing, but to date there are no signs of elk disease in Europe.

Following the success of the BIBA reintroduction project that have brought nature's engineers back to Britain after an absence of over 400 years, hopes are high for the return return of the elk and Wildlife Matters will continue to follow this story and we'll share updates on its progress with you.

And that has been this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News.

Well, we covered a wide range of stories today.

There's hope in the form of a possible elk reintroduction, but also worries about native species struggling with climate change.

We talked about environmental impacts and the concerns that the government just isn't listening.

Britain is already one of the most nature depleted countries in Europe and its risks falling further behind.

Wildlife Matters supports the Wildlife Trust campaign urging ministers to rethink their plans before it's too late.

Now let's step away from the news and head to a local woodland on a rare snowy day in the southwest of Scotland, right in the middle of winter.

But this week's Wildlife Matters mindful moments.

It.

The snow is almost over the tops of my boots as I walk through the woodland, taking in the atmosphere, the different light and that special silence that only comes during or just after a heavy snowfall.

But these magical moments are becoming rarer and I worry that future generations might not get to expect experience them as our planet warms and snow days become far less common.

On a rare Snow day in the southeast of England.

I set out to look for clues and follow animal tracks in one of my favorite local woodlands.

So join me now for the Wildlife Matters guide to spotting wildlife tracks in winter, which is this week's Wildlife Matters main feature.

Hello, and welcome to this week's Wildlife Matters main feature.

And today we are following wildlife tracks in the snow.

Stepping into the woodland at dawn, I entered a silent world that was cloaked in fresh snow.

The car park was a pristine canvas, its soft white surface unmarked by any signs of life.

Excitement bubbled up inside me as I set out to explore a familiar woodland, eager to discover the secret stories left behind by animal tracks.

Snow doesn't fall that often in the south of England, and usually just a few days each year.

But what we will learn today will help you to spot animal tracks in soft mud at any time of the year.

Today the snow was light and powdery, and it looked about 3cm deep in the car park.

So if you're ready, come along as we journey into the woods and reveal the secret lives of the creatures that live here.

As animals wander across the snow, they leave behind footprints, which are nature's secret signatures.

These tracks reveal which woodland residents are nearby and offer hints about their daily adventures.

Spotting wildlife can be tricky, especially after dark.

But the subtle signs they leave behind are perfect clues for uncovering which species share the woods with us.

Ecologists use animal signs to learn about species numbers, behaviors and their movements.

These signs include calls, burrows, leftover food, territorial marks, fur droppings, and, most importantly for us today, tracks.

If you find animal tracks in the snow or mud while you're out in the woods, what should you look for to help figure out which animal had made them?

The first thing I check is whether there are claw marks.

After that, I'll count the number of toes, which is key to identifying the animal.

Now look for patterns in the tracks.

Are the tracks all the same or do they differ in shape and size?

Do they form a straight line or do they wander a bit?

Also check if the footprints are close together or spaced well apart.

Then take a good look around you.

Imagine you are a detective searching for clues to confirm what you've found.

You're looking for droppings.

Do you see fur or feathers on the ground or caught in the trees and bushes?

If you think the tracks belong to a bird, check for nests nearby.

Notice the size and what the nests are made of.

Listening matters just as much.

What animal sounds drift through the air.

Stand still, be silent, and most of all, be patient.

And with A bit of luck, you might spot the creature that left the tracks still nearby, which is always a thrill.

It's important when following animal tracks to let your senses guide you and let a simple walk become an adventure.

The air is alive with secrets.

Foxes and badgers leave their scents.

And in rutting season, deer perfume the woods with musk.

Measuring the length and width of a track can reveal a lot.

No ruler.

Then grab a leaf or a twig from the forest floor and let nature be your guide.

With these tracking tips in mind, let's step beneath the trees and see what secrets the woods are waiting to share with us.

Today.

My boots crunch through the untouched snow along a well loved path.

I'm the first to leave footprints here since last night's gentle snowfall.

The charcoal clouds move across the dim sky as the sun rises, bringing a sense of promise to the morning.

Bare deciduous trees stand quietly in winter while the scent of the yew fills the woods and their evergreen branches add a lush green to the white snowy background.

At the edge of a small clearing, fresh tracks catch my eye.

The first hints of the day's hidden stories just waiting to be told.

The clearing is dotted with prints.

Each one reveals two long, slender marks behind the shorter ones ahead with four pads pressed into the snow on both the front and the back paws.

So many tracks together hint at a social creature.

Their larger back feet leaving bold impressions beside the smaller front paws.

And it's clear that these animals move lightly, never placing all their weight on their back feet at the ground at once.

I have a feeling some of you may have already solved the mystery of these first wild tracks.

And that's right, what we found is a delicate set of footprints from rabbits.

There aren't many tracks you could mistake for rabbit tracks, except perhaps those of a hare.

But hares have larger feet and a longer stride.

But the main clue is the habitat we're in.

We're in the woods, where hares live out in open grassland.

And hares are usually solitary.

But rabbits live in groups and can be found in more places, including woodlands like this one.

I stopped at the edge of the glade and looked over the quiet clearing.

Every rabbit track pointed away from the open space, showing they had sensed me approaching and moved into the woods for shelter.

I could have traced their paths to uncover their secret hideaways, but I didn't want to disturb these remarkable wild creatures any further.

So instead I quietly continued on my way.

As I left the glade and headed back into the woods along the track after a while, I noticed the low shrubs beside the path, weighed down by snow, are bent, as if something often passes by.

Still, there were no tracks in the snow here.

It was clear that wildlife thrives here, though.

And later tracks crisscross the main path, only to disappear beneath tangled shrubs and bramble thickets.

Then I caught sight of some fresh tracks, and the thrill runs through me as I recognize their maker instantly.

Still, let's take a moment to unravel the mystery together.

Clue by clue, these tracks belong to an animal with five clawed toes.

The claw marks are long and each toe has a pad in front of a broad rear pad.

The front and back paws look a bit different.

The front paws have longer claws, and the inner toes on the back paws sit a little further forward.

The tracks sink deep and wide into the snow, hinting at a creature much larger and heavier than the rabbit.

Each print measures around 6.5 cm across and about 5 cm long, with the sharp claws etched into the powdery snow.

This is an animal that never truly slumbers through winter.

It does shelter underground, waiting out the cold days when its favorite foods are hidden beneath frozen grounds.

But when winter nights soften, this animal will emerge to forage for fruit, berries, nuts and grains.

If you've not already guessed from the clues, what we found are badger tracks.

A solitary forager left these prints under the COVID of night.

As a set minder for my local badgers, I could not resist following the trail to see where it led.

The tracks crossed the footpath and went west into the woods.

I followed them for about a kilometre until they stopped at a patch of holly around a big oak tree.

I kept a respectful distance of at least 50 meters, careful not to disturb the badger.

I imagined to be dozing nearby.

Perhaps it was a young male curled up in a snug burrow or tucked away in an abandoned set.

I wasn't sure.

But I did take the coordinates, and I will let my local badger group know what I found.

On my way back to the main footpath, a second set of prints caught my eye.

I'd missed them before.

I was too absorbed in following the badger's trail.

But these new prints were much smaller than the badgers, pressed close, as if their maker had hurried past.

Perhaps the two animals crossed paths in the darkness, both lured out by the night.

The tracks looked like tiny stars, three toes reaching forward, two splayed to the sides, stamped crisply in the snow.

Finding these tracks in the snow did surprise me, since this animal is famous for sleeping throughout winter.

But with milder winters, they wake early and venture out on the gentler warmer nights in search of food.

We had spotted the delicate tracks of a lone hedgehog.

Although seeing this creature's tracks in the snow is a rare and magical discovery, much of their bustling activity takes place in city gardens, now where people leave out food.

But tracks reveal that hedgehogs in quiet countryside and shadowy woods also venture out to forage on winter nights.

As I wander the woodland path, we make our way toward the nearby common, a place that bursts with heather and wildflowers in warmer months, but now lies quiet and bare beneath the winter sky.

The tracks guide me to the woodland's edge, a promising spot to glimpse these elusive wild creatures.

The UK is home to two native species of this animal, though others have arrived from elsewhere.

And in these woods, both a native and an introduced species arom each one leaves behind cloven hoof prints, two long, pointed marks side by side, separated by a narrow gap.

Their shape resembles an upside down heart pressed into the earth.

You can tell the species apart by the size of their tracks.

The smallest prints measure just 3 cm, whilst the largest can stretch up to 9 cm.

Today, we're tracing the footprints of a native species, their tracks falling right in the middle.

In terms of size, each print measures around 5cm long and around 4cm wide.

Three animals have moved side by side, their stride lengths matching and their weights nearly the same.

Same.

They wandered along the woodland's edge, no doubt searching for tender new plants to nibble.

These animals are not nocturnal and there was a good chance that they would still be in the area.

I licked my finger and tested the air and found the wind to be at my back.

Not perfect.

I slipped quietly from the woods, hugging the tree line so its shadows would help to conceal me.

And there they were, three roe deer does spread out across the heath and eating along an old hedgerow.

One lifted her head, fixing me with a calm gaze before returning to graze, and the others followed, their looks curious but unafraid, as if they sensed I meant them no harm.

I stood still, enjoying the chance to watch them feed.

It felt like a special moment and was the best part of my day.

I have also seen another deer species in this area, the Muntjac, which is also called the barking deer.

These animals originated in South Asia and arrived in the UK during Victorian times, attracting attention for their unusual appearance.

You can often spot them in the Southeast, where their petite size of about 50 cm at the shoulder makes them roughly as tall as a sturdy German shepherd dog.

Their coats are chestnut red brown, with Creamy bellies.

Males have outward pointing teeth that look like small fangs.

Their hooves are small, though just 3cm long and 2cm wide.

Red deer do live in the south of England, but I have never seen them in this woodland.

They are native to the UK and are the largest deer species here.

And their tracks can measure 9 cm in length and over 7 cm wide.

I should also mention the fallow deer, which is not native and is usually found living in large herds in London's parks and on some of the bigger estates around the country.

Fallow deer are bigger than roe deer and their tracks are around 7 cm long and 5 cm wide.

There are a few wild groups in some places, but but they're not found in this woodland.

Deer tracks can sometimes be mistaken for sheep tracks.

Sheep have cloven hooves with more rounded ends, while deer tracks usually come to a point.

After seeing the deer, I walked along the edge of the woods.

At a low stone wall between the.

Heath and the paddock, I noticed some interesting tracks.

In the fresh snow, these tracks resembled the hedgehog prints I'd spotted earlier, but but were much smaller, probably less than 1cm long and shared that same starburst shape.

Delicate claw marks were clearly visible.

The tracks revealed a neat two toe pattern, hinting that the animal hops forward, landing its back and front paws together in unison.

But the tracks are erratic and they don't follow any set pattern.

They twist and wind rather than moving in a straight line, suggesting the animal was searching for something rather than moving quickly from one place to another.

All the tracks lead to the base of the wall and then continue up.

Where you can see them running along.

The wall for several meters.

So we're looking for a small animal.

That moves easily on the ground and can quickly scurry along the side and the tops of a wall.

It also searches in an unpredictable way.

So whose tracks could these be?

Well, if you thought of a mustelid.

You are on the right track.

But which one could it be?

It's certainly not a badger or an otter.

The real challenge lies in distinguishing the nearly identical tracks of the American mink, stoat and weasel, which differ only subtly in their size.

Again, habitat offers another clue.

The American mink favours watery environments and is rarely found thriving in heathland or woodland settings.

Stoats and weasels thrive where tangled woodland meets crumbling, half forgotten farm buildings.

Here they slip through shadows, safe from predators and surrounded by a feast of mice and rabbits.

The best way to tell them apart is by looking at their tails.

A stoat's tail is about half as long as its body and ends with a black tip, whilst a weasel's tail is shorter, more stubby and all one body colour.

So how can you tell if a stoat or a weasel had left these tracks?

Look at how the animal moves.

The 2x2 paw print pattern, almost like a hop, is a classic sign of a stoat, which moves by bounding forward with its back arched high.

Smaller weasel prefers a direct route, hugging the earth as it darts along, generally swift and low.

A stoat once made its home in a burrow inside the old stone wall.

I did not see it today, but I can picture it now in its white winter coat.

That is a winter clue.

The stoat turns white while the weasel stays brown all year round.

Circling the farm buildings, I paused at the woodland's edge.

Fresh prints dotted in the snow ahead, beckoning me to follow them.

The tracks wound from the woods to the farmyard's edge.

I followed, marvelling at a leap over a six foot wall, the Prince heading straight for a tangle of shrubs in the far corner.

As I studied the size and unwavering line of the tracks, a second set caught my eye, the both trails vanishing into the same dense thicket.

These prints came from the old barn.

Behind it, more tracks stretched out into the heathland and it was clear the animal had been hauling, nearly dragging something heavy along its path.

Both sets of tracks ran in perfect lines, a result of the animal's back feet neatly stepping into the prints left by the front feet with each stride.

Each print revealed four toes, two pointing forward, one on either side, and a soft oval pad pressed into the earth behind them.

You can see claw marks in the tracks where the animal was carrying something, but not in the first set of prints, which clearly belonged to a second animal.

I found a pair of the same species living in the thick brush at the edge of this old farmyard.

I'm sure these aren't dog tracks because they're straight.

Whilst dogs usually move in a more zigzag way, the prints are only 5 cm long and 4 cm wide, which would be small for a dog.

The narrow diamond shaped foot is also distinctive.

What really convinces me is that the claws show in one set of prints but not in the other.

Dogs can't retract their claws.

What I found is a pair of foxes here.

Dog Fox and his Vix are most likely drawn together as the breeding season approaches.

They likely roam alone, although a daughter or two may linger nearby, ready to help with cubs.

When the time comes, that daughter will be grown yet the dog fox may still bring her food.

The dog fox and vixen may split up to hunt.

Looks like one had slipped into the woods whilst the other had ventured out onto the heath.

From the tracks I could see that a fox from the woods came back without any food or maybe just a small meal that it was carrying in its mouth.

But the other fox which had gone to the heath had come back with a big meal.

Maybe it was a large adult rabbit, heavy enough that the fox had to put it down and drag it.

At times, such a catch could have satisfied both foxes.

With the last traces of paw prints fading in the snow, this is the perfect place to end today's adventure of looking for wildlife tracks in the snow on this week's Wildlife Matters main feature.

I hope you enjoyed that adventure.

I had a great time making it because even though I know the woodland world, you never really know what wildlife you will find.

This time it was all about following the wild animal tracks, so I had to find some.

I hope some of the tips and things I was able to share are.

Helpful for your own walks.

Whether there's snow or not, most of these techniques will work well in wet mud or dry dirt.

As always, the best way to learn is to get outside.

And if you can go with a local wildlife expert, I also recommend joining a local wildlife group or participating in guided walks.

This is a fantastic way to connect with experts and deepen your engagement with conservation efforts.

Wildlife Matters we'll be back in two weeks time with the first part of one of the most exciting and remote adventures I've ever had in the uk.

So join us as we explore the ancient temperate rainforests on Scotland's wild and rugged Northwest coast.

It's a real adventure with challenges, amazing moments and plenty of steep hillsides covered in moss and lichens.

So if you haven't already, please subscribe, follow and share our podcast with anyone.

That you feel would enjoy it.

Thank you.

I'd also like to say hello to our new listeners.

We encourage you to share your own experience experiences with us, whether it's your favorite nature spots, wildlife sightings, or conservation efforts that you are involved in.

So please feel free to join our discussions on our social media platforms or in the comments section on our website and we leave our email address in the Show Notes if you want to contact us directly.

And we'd love to hear from you and help you feel a sense of belonging as you become part of our vibrant community.

Thank you for spending your time with us today and as always, stay curious.

Wild ones, this is Wildlife Matters signing off.