Water reveals animal tracks

ORRINGTON – Water, water everywhere at the Fields Pond Audubon Center. Nothing like Hurricane Katrina, thank goodness, but still eight inches according to our rain gauge. We have a beautiful little stream in a ravine. It roared for two days after last weekend’s deluge. It overflowed and roared down a nearby trail, too. It’s finished with its tirade for now, but evidence of the resulting runoff is everywhere.

Even after the water levels have dropped, you can see how high the water rose by looking for the debris line. Leaves, twigs, and pine needles get neatly lined up at the high-water line. It’s also interesting to find debris lines in places where you wouldn’t really expect them – in the forest where no stream exists. Some of these debris lines are more like miniature dams of leaves and pine needles, pushed along by sheets of water. The rain came down too fast to get absorbed by the forest soil.

Up in our forest this week, visitors were also surprised to hear gurgling under foot as they hiked on relatively dry ground. Rocky soils at the Nature Center harbor underground streams that go undetected until a heavy rain event brings them to life. It is fun to find one of these streams that may appear and disappear along its route. Where it is above ground, you can follow the stream. When it seems to disappear, listen and follow with your ears to determine where it may pop up next. Children love that.

When water clears away the debris and exposes mud and sand, you can find animal tracks. Deer, coyote and raccoon tracks have been found along several of our intermittent streams. A large coyote scat showed signs that this coyote was eating not just meat with hair and bones, but many apples as well.

One evening, a spotted salamander appeared at the door, right on the doormat, as if it was seeking dryer ground. Too dry for you on the floor inside, we said, and tried to head it in a different direction.

Send sightings, comments or questions to fieldspond@maineaudubon.org