Welcome, Detective 
 

Tracking wildlife is both science and storytelling. There is no better way to experience ecology than learning how to interpret the signs animals leave behind. This website has been created to be an amateur guide to learning how to investigate your backyard, interpret any tracks or evidence left behind, and, ultimately, discover the animal responsible for those signs. Although the website is focused on species commonly found in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the United States, these same interpretation skills can be used to help you discover the secrets of the natural world wherever you may go. I hope this website inspires you to be inquisitive about what is happening in your backyard, back lots, or nearby park, and to further develop skills to help you discover and interpret the evidence left behind by your local wildlife. 

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Check out Tracking 101 to get started. Head over to the Police Blotter for all the latest stories or important information from the backyard. Stop by the Video Surveillance Center to see the latest footage of our culprits from our trail-cams. Visit the Detective Academy to be quizzed on tracks and signs from all sorts of potential visitors, so you're ready for any possible investigation. Ask questions and share your best sightings in the Forum. And be sure to follow our Instagram below for even more updates and information from your amateur tracking headquarters.