lthough wildlife is all around, we are lucky when we have a chance to see it. More often than not,

it’s the sign of wildlife we see. Fur caught in a fence, bones, scat (poop), nests, feathers, tracks, and even remnants of a meal can be clues of wildlife in the area.

Let’s explore some of the sign left by wildlife that you might find in your own backyard or a nearby park.

Raccoon tracks, pigeon poop, and a heron feather are all signs that wildlife is near!

SPRING 2018

Have you ever noticed anything unusual on a plant, tree leaf, or twig that doesn’t seem quite right? Most of the plant looks normal, but part of the tree may have a swelling or growth on it. What you have spotted may be an insect gall.

alls are usually caused by an insect injecting a chemical into the

plant. This irritates the plant and causes it to grow a lump of plant

tissue around the insect’s eggs. The growth protects the eggs and

provides food for the larvae once the eggs hatch. Once the insect has

pupated into an adult, it chews a small hole in the gall and emerges

to fly away. In some galls, you may be able to spot the exit hole. If

not, perhaps the insects are still inside!

More than 1,500 insects in North America cause plants

to make galls. Many of those insects select only one species

of plant on which to lay their eggs. The gall created by the

plant is different for each species of insect that selects

it to nurture its young. Some galls may have only

one insect inside; others may have several. There

are even some galls that provide shelter for many

different types of insects at the

same time.

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Open up a gall and you may find a gall wasp or

other insect inside!

Use all of your senses when looking for evidence of wildlife. Look closely, and you may

find tracks, disturbed ground cover, dropped feathers, holes in the ground, dens, or

bones. Don’t forget to look up into the trees. A nest among the leaves, woodpecker

holes, claw marks, or worm channels on trees may be the reward.

Beaver leave sign that’s hard to miss near their wetland homes. Lodges and dams made of large sticks and limbs, pointed stumps, and branches with the bark chewed off are all evidence of beavers at work.

One of the most common types of sign is animal tracks. Many animals leave tracks when the snow, mud, or soil conditions are right. To narrow down what animal might have left the tracks, think about the type of plant community you’re in, and the kinds of animals that live there. For example, if you’re in an upland forest, away from any wetlands, the tracks you see are probably not from a beaver, muskrat, or otter.

Follow the tracks to identify patterns. It helps to have a tape measure or ruler to measure individual

tracks, stride (length of step), and the width between the animal’s feet.

Canada lynx tracks in

snow.

Great blue heron tracks

in mud.

Beavers chew down trees with their powerful front teeth. The pointed stumps may be the first sign that beavers live nearby.

A beaver dam is made from sticks, mud, and rocks. One reason beavers build dams is to surround their lodge with water for protection from predators.

A beaver lodge can be up to eight feet wide at the base. It provides shelter from predators and winter weather for adults and their young.

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Konk-la-ree! Listen for the call of

the red-winged blackbird – a sure sign

of spring.

Frogs and toads make their breeding calls from

ponds, streams, and other wetlands in the spring and summer. Just like birds, each species can

be identified by its call. Ten species of frogs and toads are native to New Hampshire. Common species include the

American toad and green frog. Other species, such as the Fowler’s toad, are rare.

Some sign cannot be seen, but can be heard. Bird songs, buzzing insects,

frog calls, and mammal calls are sure signs of nearby wildlife.

The loud chirping of crickets on a late summer evening communicates a variety of messages to other crickets. Did you know that you can estimate the outdoor temperature from the speed of the chirps? To get the temperature in Fahrenheit, count the number of chirps in fifteen seconds and then add 37. The chirping is made when crickets rub their wings together. The rubbing slows as the temperature cools.

You can help biologists learn more about where frogs live by taking part in Fish and Game’s

Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program. Learn more at www.wildnh.com/nongame/reptiles-amphibians.html.

Eastern coyotes can be heard yipping and

howling in winter and spring during their breeding season.

From late March through June, listen for

the loud peep, peep, peep of the spring peeper –

a tiny frog that has a BIG voice!

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Green frog

Just a few years ago monarch butterflies were abundant in our yards and other open lands. Today, it is increasingly less

likely to see this beautiful orange butterfly. Monarch butterflies are now so scarce in North America that they may be added to the

federal endangered species list.

Why are monarchs in trouble? Loss of habitat and the use of pesticides on farmers’ crops are two reasons for their decline. Pesticides are more effective than ever at controlling insect pests that damage crops. Unfortunately, they are also toxic to both monarchs and the milkweed plants on which they depend.

You can help by creating habitat for monarchs. Plant native milkweed species, which provide the only source of food for the monarch caterpillar. Adults lay their eggs on milkweed. Be sure not to use pesticides nearby!

You can help biologists monitor monarch populations throughout North America. Add to what they know by reporting your sightings. The most important

skill you need is learning how to identify a monarch in all stages of its life cycle. Learn more at monarchjointventure.org.

Finding more or less sign of a specific species from year

to year alerts biologists to changes in species

numbers. Wildlife sign may provide the first clue that a

species is declining.

Native milkweed

species provide the only source of food for the monarch

caterpillar.

The chrysalis of

the monarch butterfly starts

out an emerald green color and

later becomes transparent.

Tiny monarch eggs can be found on the underside of milkweed leaves.

The monarch caterpillar is brightly marked

with yellow, black, and white stripes.

DREAMSTIME.COM PHOTO CREDITS:

MONARCH ON MILKWEED, MILKWEED - PAT SMITH / MONARCH CATERPILLAR - FRAMED 1 / CHRYSALIS - DREAMSTIME COMPOSITE

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The NH Fish and Game Department receives Federal Assistance from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion and sex, pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title IX of the

Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or service, please contact or write to:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service l Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration

4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: WSFR – 4020, Arlington, Virginia 22203,

Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Programs

N.H. Fish and Game Department, Public Affairs Division11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301 l 603-271-3211 l WildNH.com

Support for this issue of Wild Times provided by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire, the official

non-profit partner of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dept.

Wild Times for Kids is published annually by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Multiple copies are available for schools and youth groups upon request. Send your request to:

DREAMSTIME.COM PHOTO CREDITS:

DEER DROPPINGS - JURAS 10 / BEAR DROPPINGS - KENNETH COPE / RACCOON TRACKS - K. KISTL 01 / PIGEON DROPPING - EAG1E /

FIELD CRICKET - ALEXIS VIRID

Sometimes the easiest animal sign to find is what they leave behind. Feces, scat, droppings

– these are all fancy words for poop, and all animals leave this clue to their presence. Unscramble the letters with each picture to learn what animal left their unique sign of poop!

iSTOCKPHOTO.COM PHOTO CREDITS:

CANADA GOOSE DROPPINGS - 1 HENRIK_L / BROWN BAT DROPPINGS - SBONK

GBI WOBRN TAB

DWIL KURYET

REDE ALKBC EBRA

TOYEOC ODTA

LEPALRTICAR TOBABC DANAAC EOGSO

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ANSWERS: 1)CATERPILLAR 2)BOBCAT 3)CANADA GOOSE 4)BIG BROWN BAT 5)DEER 6)BLACK BEAR 7)WILD TURKEY 8)COYOTE 9)TOAD

Poop du Jour