Field Guide to Animal Tracks and Scat of California

by Lawrence Mark Elbroch, Michael Kresky, Jonah Evans, Mark Elbroch (Illustrator), Michael Kresky (Illustrator)

Overview

Spotting an animal’s fresh footprints in the wild can conjure a world for the hiker: Why did the deer tracks disappear? Where did the cougar turn off the trail? What does it mean when two sets of footprints seem to coincide? This beautifully illustrated field guide, the first devoted to the tracks and signs of California animals—including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates like spiders and beetles—blends meticulous science with field experience to provide an engaging companion for both armchair exploration and easy field identification. Filled with useful tools for the wildlife expert, and essential background and visual aids for the novice, including in-depth information about the ecology of each species, this book goes beyond basic recognition of types to interpret what animals leave behind as a way of “seeing” how they move through the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520271098
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	05/07/2012
Series:	California Natural History Guides , #104
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	550
Sales rank:	651,711
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.82(h) x 1.08(d)

About the Author

Mark Elbroch is a wildlife biologist and the author of numerous field guides including Mammal Tracks and Signs: A Guide to North American Species (winner of the National Outdoors Book Award), Peterson’s Field Guide to Animal Tracks, and Peterson’s Reference Guide to the Behavior of North American Mammals. Michael Kresky is the founder and president of Effigy Art, a fine arts company in Santa Barbara. Jonah Evans is Research Biologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Getting started
Quick reference: Sooted track plates
Chapter 3: Mammal Tracks and Trails
Chapter 4: Tracks and Trails of Bird and Other Animals
Quick reference: Tracks
Chapter 5: Animal Scats and scent marking behaviors
Quick reference: Scats
Chapter 6: Bird pellets
Quick reference: Pellets
Chapter 7: Mammal species accounts

Bibliography
About the authors

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This beautifully illustrated field guide, the first devoted to the tracks and signs of California animals—including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates like spiders and beetles—blends meticulous science with field experience to provide an engaging companion for both armchair exploration and easy field identification. Filled with useful tools for the wildlife expert, and essential background and visual aids for the novice, including in-depth information about the ecology of each species, this book goes beyond basic recognition of types to interpret what animals leave behind as a way of "seeing" how they move through the world. California naturalists will want this book!"—Birdbooker Report/The Guardian

"This is the type of book you can dip into at any page and find fascinating tidbits."—Sacramento Bee

"It's a must-have book for those interested in the natural world around them."—Mountain Democrat

Editorial Reviews

A valuable resource for anyone interested in being better able to interpret their natural surroundings.

Salinas Californian - Bob Welch

It’s a must-have book for those interested in the natural world around them.

Mountain Democrat - Michael Raffety

This beautifully illustrated field guide, the first devoted to the tracks and signs of California animals—including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates like spiders and beetles—blends meticulous science with field experience to provide an engaging companion for both armchair exploration and easy field identification. Filled with useful tools for the wildlife expert, and essential background and visual aids for the novice, including in-depth information about the ecology of each species, this book goes beyond basic recognition of types to interpret what animals leave behind as a way of "seeing" how they move through the world. California naturalists will want this book!

Birdbooker Report/The Guardian - Ian Paulsen

This is the type of book you can dip into at any page and find fascinating tidbits.

Sacramento Bee

"This beautifully illustrated field guide, the first devoted to the tracks and signs of California animals—including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates like spiders and beetles—blends meticulous science with field experience to provide an engaging companion for both armchair exploration and easy field identification. Filled with useful tools for the wildlife expert, and essential background and visual aids for the novice, including in-depth information about the ecology of each species, this book goes beyond basic recognition of types to interpret what animals leave behind as a way of "seeing" how they move through the world. California naturalists will want this book!"—Birdbooker Report/The Guardian

"This is the type of book you can dip into at any page and find fascinating tidbits."—Sacramento Bee

"It's a must-have book for those interested in the natural world around them."—Mountain Democrat

"A valuable resource for anyone interested in being better able to interpret their natural surroundings."—Salinas Californian

From the Publisher