Keeping a tracking journal and reporting observations

Memory deceives, notes do not. Recording the same details for every find allows you to compare later: when do certain tracks appear? How do they age on which ground? Where do trails run? Over time, many single entries turn into real knowledge about an area.

The most important principle is separating observation from interpretation. An observation only describes what can be seen: “four toe prints, claws visible, seven centimetres long”. An interpretation is your guess: “probably a dog”. Anyone who mixes the two often writes down a species after a quick glance and then overlooks features that do not fit.

This separation trains careful looking. It has another advantage too: if you later realise your interpretation was wrong, the observation is still usable. You can check it again with new knowledge.

For every find, first note the basic data: date, time, place as a place name or coordinates, the weather of the last few days and the substrate – mud, sand, snow, clay. These details sound boring, but are often decisive later, for example for estimating a track's age.

Then describe the observation as precisely as possible: number of toes, claws yes or no, shape, length and width, distance between prints and the trail pattern. Take a photo from directly above with a scale, or make a sketch. Drawing forces you to look closely – even simple outline sketches with measurements are often more valuable than many blurry photos.

Finally, write down your guess separately and how sure you are. Mark uncertain finds as uncertain. When you compare with a regional tracking guide at home or ask experts, add corrections to the journal instead of overwriting the old entry. That way it stays visible how you have learned.

Many regions have monitoring programmes or citizen science platforms for wildlife observations. Citizen science means that volunteers collect data that helps researchers and conservationists. Modern monitoring programmes – such as snow track counts or camera projects – often rely partly on such observations.

For large predators, dedicated reporting bodies are often responsible. You can find out which bodies and platforms exist in your area from the conservation or wildlife authority. This entry deliberately names no specific platforms, because they differ by region.

Data quality matters. An observation honestly marked as “uncertain” is far more valuable than a wrong identification reported as certain. Photos with a scale and accurate basic data make your report checkable for experts.

Do not share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species publicly – not on social media, in forums or in photos with stored location data. Such details can lead to many people going there and disturbing the animals, to poaching, or to eggs and plants being collected. Report such finds only to the responsible bodies.

Remember that many phone photos store the location automatically. Before sharing a photo, check whether it reveals the exact spot. For your private journal, on the other hand, the location is very useful.

And of course the usual rules apply when collecting observations: stay on the paths, do not follow fresh tracks of large animals, do not touch anything that can transmit disease.

Field notebooks have been the basic tool of naturalists for centuries. Many well-known discoveries began with modest notes on weather, places and observations. A tracking journal stands in exactly this tradition.

For families and school classes the journal is a lovely shared project. Every child can contribute their own sketches, and at the end of the year you can see how much you have learned. A simple notebook and a pencil are enough – pencil still writes when the paper is damp.