Cloven-hooved Mammals of the Rocky Mountains is a short tracking guide for anyone interested in tracking within British Columbia, Alberta, and the western United States. This accessible guide covers seven species of ungulate native to the Rockies - elk, mule deer, pronghorn, moose, bison, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep. All data was collected in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem while undertaking a mammal tracking residency with my mentor Jim Halfpenny.
During the residency, measurements of footprints and tracks on the seven species were collected, analysed, and turned into easy-to-read graphs and charts with extra notes on natural history and behaviour. The guide includes a brief introduction on the evolution of the cloven hoof, detail on trail analysis, and a list of equipment needed for successful tracking. The sample sizes were small (so the guide serves only as an introduction to tracking in the field) but it’s a nice start to navigating the variations and overlaps within the often-confusing realm of ungulate hoof prints. Includes photographs of all seven species footprints.
Available to buy here for $15: