
As the weather heats up, spotting wildlife during the day can be difficult. Most animals seek a cool spot to stay during the day, being more active early in the morning and later in the evening. Even if you cannot spot them, you can look for signs that animals left behind on the trail. OC Parks and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy will be hosting two separate events next weekend to teach participants how to look for these signs.
“Animals love using the trails to get from point A to point B most efficiently and to conserve energy,” says Conservancy Interpretive Specialist Kelley Reetz. “The tracks and scat they leave behind are a snapshot, telling a story about wildlife activity.”
Reetz will be leading the Animal Tracks and Scats activity at 6 pm on Friday, June 27, in Baker Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine ranch Open Space. Along the 3-mile hike through chaparral to coastal sage scrub habitats, which are home to a great variety of animals, Reetz will teach visitors how to identify tracks and scat. This program is geared toward participants 12 and up.
Pre-registration is required for these activities, and ends the day before the event at 4 pm. Please visit www.LetsGoOutside.org to register and to get more information.