
Photo by Peregrinator725 via Flickr
One of my favourite memories as a child was skating on the frozen pond in our backyard. The look on Isaac’s face as I pretended to be a zamboni while clearing a small square of river ice was the magic that memories are made of. It just lit up! We can’t wait to have a few of his friends over for a game of mini sticks and a marshmallow and hot dog roast. I believe this is the only time in my life where I hope it will be cold for a little bit longer.
The river was slow to freeze up, leaving a few different layers of animal tracks in the ice and snow. Pretending to be archaeologists, Isaac and I brush off the snow and clean out the tracks. So far we have found tracks belonging to deer, wild turkey, squirrel, dog and a mysterious four-legged animal with a long swishy tail that drags on the ground. We guess it may be a fisher or a coyote. I’ve seen coyotes in the woods while I am trail running and there have been reports of fishers in the area.
Going for a walk? Try out these activties from Today’s Parent. If you have found tracks and are looking to turn your discovery into a teachable moment (I know I always am), these kindergarten animal track activities from Parenting Science hit the spot. They go beyond the basic plaster casts, which I’ve never had luck with, and include tips for urban families.
Have you met any new animals or discovered interesting tracks in your neighbourhood?