Animal Tracks and Signs was first published in English in the 1970s, and immediately established itself as an all-time classic. Totally unique in its accessible, down-to-earth approach and detailed coverage of more than 200 creatures, it is the only book in print that enables readers to determine which animals have passed through the countryside by examining the traces they have left behind, opening up a captivating new world that might otherwise remain unseen. Whether following footprints in mud, sand, or snow; feeding marks on cones, nuts, trees, and animal remains; homes and hiding places above and below ground; or feathers, pellets, and droppings, readers are taught how to identify the bird or mammal that has been before them, aided by hundreds of beautiful, informative colour photographs, line drawings, and diagrams, and clear descriptions of the anatomy, behaviour, movement patterns, and habitat of different species. Quick-reference plate sections compare actual-size prints, pellets, and droppings for fast identification on the move, covering such diverse wildlife as the shrew, hedgehog, fox, elk, and bear; the sparrow, kestrel, and eagle owl. This new reissued edition includes a new Foreword by Ray Mears, who has found this book to be an invaluable point of reference throughout his career, and recommends it to students on his Bushcraft and Survival courses.
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This book is where it all began for me; it’s an absolute classic of its kind. -- Ray Mears, bushcraft and survival expert
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Preben Bang is a highly respected author and wildlife expert. First published in English in the 1970s, his unique Animal Tracks and Signs text, with illustrations by Preben Dahlstrom has become an all-time natural history classic. Ray Mears is recognised throughout the world as an authority on Bushcraft and Survival. He has become a household name through his television series: Tracks, World of Survival, The Essential Guide to Rocks, Extreme Survival, Trips Money Can't Buy with Ewan McGregor, and The Real Heroes of Telemark. Ray founded Woodlore, School of Wilderness Bushcraft, in 1983 and has been teaching for the past 23 years.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 59 people found the following review helpful
By M. Hughes
Format:Hardcover
As a mammal ecologist, I'm pretty familiar with feeding signs of rodents and also mammal footprints, and general identification... So it is probably quite natural that I'm a bit over-sensitive to things lost in translation. In general, this is a fantastic book, and I will take it with me on any "outing"... but there are a few errors...
On page 67 the photo in the centre at the bottom of the page says it is a fox print. I am familiar with the technique of putting a line, or an "x" through a track to determine if it is a fox or dog. They mention it above, on the very same page, but the one in the photo doesn't seem to fall in line with my (or their) criteria for a fox track.
On page 53, there are the tracks of a field vole jumping in the snow. (note marks from the "long tail" between the tracks... ) except field voles have particularly short tails. Could this be a bank vole track and it is just a typo??
On 138, there is a photo of a hazelnut eaten by a yellow-necked mouse / wood mouse on the "left" and a bank vole on the "right". I'm pretty sure these are backwards, again, according to both my experience and their text... Mice leave marks all over the outside of the edge of the hole, whereas voles are quite neat and tidy. The photos are backwards...
Don't get me wrong, I particulalry like this book, and I think it is very comprehensive. But I have found several mis-prints.
(sorry, Mr Bang, its a lovley book - I'm not trying to start tearing up this fantastic piece of work, but I'm just genuinely a bit confused...)
So in spite of all my grumbling, I give it 4 stars. But a warning that there are a few tiny mistakes.
On page 67 the photo in the centre at the bottom of the page says it is a fox print. I am familiar with the technique of putting a line, or an "x" through a track to determine if it is a fox or dog. They mention it above, on the very same page, but the one in the photo doesn't seem to fall in line with my (or their) criteria for a fox track.
On page 53, there are the tracks of a field vole jumping in the snow. (note marks from the "long tail" between the tracks... ) except field voles have particularly short tails. Could this be a bank vole track and it is just a typo??
On 138, there is a photo of a hazelnut eaten by a yellow-necked mouse / wood mouse on the "left" and a bank vole on the "right". I'm pretty sure these are backwards, again, according to both my experience and their text... Mice leave marks all over the outside of the edge of the hole, whereas voles are quite neat and tidy. The photos are backwards...
Don't get me wrong, I particulalry like this book, and I think it is very comprehensive. But I have found several mis-prints.
(sorry, Mr Bang, its a lovley book - I'm not trying to start tearing up this fantastic piece of work, but I'm just genuinely a bit confused...)
So in spite of all my grumbling, I give it 4 stars. But a warning that there are a few tiny mistakes.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I can't praise this book enough...if you're at this page and you haven't got a copy, why not? It details not only footprints and tracks, but feeding signs, droppings, pellets etc. Nice clear, colourful illustrations and photos, too! Yes, it covers some animals you are unlikely to encounter in the UK (brown bear, anyone?) but that's in addition to in-depth coverage of our more 'local' wildlife...
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Armstrong
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book for my ten year old, but it has proved fascinating and useful for all the family. How else can you differentiate fox poo from dog poo? Or identify the contents of pellets? We have used every section and it is the only book my son reads for pleasure!
My only criticism would be some of the gaps - probably a regional bias. Not so much on bats for example. But a great book and highly recommended for small (and not so small) nature lovers. It makes every walk an adventure!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Guide!
Very representative images in their natural sizes and a wide variety of animals! Ihad already bought the Hamlyn guide but I was a bit disappointed with the images, which made it a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Despina Migli
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mystery solved but no use for tracking fish
After years of scratching my head as to what lay before me on my lawn every morning, i have now successfully tracked-down the mystery to a one-legged kangaroo giving piggy-back to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by K. McKinlay
5.0 out of 5 stars
a great referance book
This is a must for all interested in any kind of outdoor pursuits or just interested in animals in general good pictures and excellent illustrations and. Read more
Published 13 months ago by c carter
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best
I have seen several books on the subject and all of them are pretty good, but in my opinion this is by far and away the best. Read more
Published 14 months ago by John D. Ellis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great little book
I got this book for myself and my family to have some fun while out walking in the woods, my daughter and youngest son love "finding clues" as they call it, they have embraced... Read more
Published 16 months ago by treehuggerstu
4.0 out of 5 stars
Views of shoes and poos
Although I (the reviewer) bought it as a gift the recipient is delighted with it. The book is one of the very few tracking books that cover both creatures in the UK and mainland... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr Mark Savile-Barton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift to my husband
This was to replace a book my husband had lost many years ago and wanted to find once more - he loves it and recommends it to you!
Published 20 months ago by pauline
5.0 out of 5 stars
No Complaints!!!
I received this book and immedietly started to read it,straight from the postmans hand.
This book is not like other books i have seen on animal tracks as it tells you so much... Read more
This book is not like other books i have seen on animal tracks as it tells you so much... Read more
Published 24 months ago by kay
2.0 out of 5 stars
Errors in the text
I now finally have a good copy of this book, but have had to wait whilst the edition I was sent had errors removed. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2011 by NIgelJ
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best field guide to recognize the tracks
Plenty of photographs and pictures, it's very easy to learn how to recognize the animal tracks. You will learn too many detaisl about the animal living. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2011 by Jorge Angel Ramos Abuin
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