How to Identify Different Animal and Wildlife

Learning how to identify different animal and wildlife can be a necessity. It can help keep you safe if bear tracks are seen. It can help hunters locate their quarry, and it can help identify problem animals in the neighborhood. It is important to know what kind of animals are found in a particular area.

• Find out what animals are present in the region.  This can be done by checking with the state website to see what animals are common for the area. If you are not a local resident, know what kind of wildlife you could be dealing with.


• Use guidebooks to help you identify animal tracks and their droppings.  These guides can be found in sportsmen/outdoor stores, bookstores or on the Internet. If you are constantly in the woods, it may be worthwhile to keep a small reference book with you.


• Look at the animal's tracks.  All animals have a unique set of tracks. Learn to identify an animal by looking at the tracks it makes in the snow or mud.  Some animals have similar tracks, such as members of the canine family. This might make it difficult to distinguish the animal. Other animals, such as turkeys, have a distinct set of tracks.


• Look at the droppings, or scat, that vary with the animal's diet.  Note the size, color, shape and content of the droppings. Determine whether the droppings were left at night or during the day.  It is important to note the habitat and what animals prefer this habitat.  You will not find brown bears in Pennsylvania, for example.