OUTDOOR BRIEF

FUN WITH THE FAMILY

Holidays a good time to go animal tracking

Winter holidays are the time to take the kids to snowy play areas. It's also a perfect opportunity for a wildlife lesson.

Snow on the ground means animals' track prints can be easily seen. When they ask what kind of animal it is, it helps to have a field guide with you. Sketches of different animal tracks are available on the Nevada Department of Wildlife Web site at www.ndow.org/wild/animals/tracks/index.shtm. Pocket track identification guides also are available at nearly every public lands visitor center.

"Animal tracks, and where they are found, can give kids and adults alike a glimpse into the life of the animal that made the tracks. You can find out where they live, what they eat and even what they do," said Doug Nielsen, conservation education supervisor for NDOW. "It's like solving a wildlife mystery."

It's more likely that you'll see the signs rather than the actual animals. Discourage your kids from following the tracks, especially if the tracks look fresh. A good alternative is to have them draw the prints they see in a makeshift journal.