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''A fascinating book ... with an enormous wealth of detailed knowledge, wonderful photos and illustrations . '' - Jane Goodall Institute Containing more than 1,600 photos and drawings, this magnificent handbook is the definitive guide to the tracks and signs of European animals. Wildlife tracking takes us deep into the mystery of nature, step by step. Many people may have some idea of what the tracks of a deer or the prints of a rabbit look like, but few of us realise how much more there is to discover. The European Animal Tracks Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the art of tracking, offering practical insight into the vast wealth of information that you can read from animal tracks and signs. Detailed descriptions and measurements of footprints and gaits are provided to aid identification, and include life-size or precisely scaled comparison charts of mammalian and bird footprints. In-depth species portraits present the biology, tracks and typical signs of Europe''s mammals. The book also covers the footprints and grazing marks, nests, burrows and other signs of common birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Now the standard work in the field, this handbook is an invaluable reference for all beginner and expert wild-animal trackers in the region.
List of contents
Preface
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
How to use this book
Learning tracking
MAMMALS
Occurrence, biology and ecology
Foot morphology and tracks
Gaits and tracks
Guide to identifying mammal tracks
Identifying and interpreting signs
Insectivores
Bats
Lagomorphs
Rodents
Carnivores
Even-toed ungulates
BIRDS
Foot morphology
Gaits and tracks
Guide to identifying bird tracks
Anisodactyl
Tridactyl
Palmate
Totipalmate
Zygodactyl
Signs of birds
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
Tracks
Signs
INSECTS AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES
Tracks
Signs
APPENDICES
Literature (selection)
Glossary
Templates for documenting tracks and mapping
Index
Track formula for mammals
About the author
Joscha Grolms is an internationally recognised expert on the tracks and signs of animals in Europe. He has spent many years observing, measuring, photographing and researching, with his research taking him to Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany, as well as to North America. In the course of his training, he has learned from both renowned scientists and indigenous trackers.
Joscha works as an evaluator to establish a worldwide standard for tracking, and he also teaches seminars, leads tracking tours and teaches students the art of tracking.
