Mammal Tracks and Sign of the Northeast

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a key to tracking!
Review: Diane Gibbons does an amazing job helping amateur trackers to decipher what we see in the field. I have yet to see a book that has a key, similar to botanical field guides, allowing us to piece together the tracks we see. The key is key! The illustrations are wonderful, as well, and equally helpful. Finally, the book is small enough to fit in a daypack. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the wildlife around us.

Rating:
Summary: What Kind of Critter Was Here?
Review: Do you find yourself scratching your head when you examine tracks in the snow in your back yard? Have you wondered what beast left that distinctive scat on a wooden footbridge? Diane Gibbons' book is going to illuminate your world. Where the book is most useful is in differentiating among the signs of closely-related animals, such as wolf, coyote, and fox. And then there are the seldom-seen, difficult to identify signs, such as martin tracks and lynx scat. The book is wonderfully illustrated, and makes a great reference for the swift and accurate identificatioin of the tracks and signs of all mammals in the nine northeastern states. The diagrams illustrating the range of each animal are a welcome bonus.

Rating:
Summary: original
Review: There are numerous original concepts in this book: a key to identifying tracks, key identification features with arrows, species comparison pages (i.e. otter vs. fisher), and mating seasons compared across species. A wonderful addition to the diversity of tracking books on the market! And a generous book filled with wondrous illustrations created with real heart. Buy it.