Some new-fallen snow allowed local residents to explore the Heald Tract in Wilton and figure out who else is meandering the region this winter.

Jon Sargent, an experienced tracker, led a group of curious hikers through the trails of the 1,492-acre preserve on a recent Sunday to see what other creatures had gone before them on a blanket of white. 

“Could be a fisher cat, could be a dog,” said Sargent about some tracks found in the snow early on.

Sargent been tracking for more than three decades, and cited one book as a catalyst for his interest and early learning -- “Tracking and the Art of Seeing” by Paul Rezendes. Nikki Andrews of the Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library was another force behind this excursion, which is one of the library’s “Boots and Books” series of walks.

The Heald Tract is managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and includes land in Wilton, Mason, Greenville and Temple. 

Between hikers and dog-walkers, it can be hard to find animal tracks in high-traffic areas, but Sargent told the group how to do so. 

“Animal tracks cross trails, they don’t stay on them,” he said.

This tip sent eyes toward the less-disturbed snow to the left and right.

“You also have to learn animals’ gaits,” he said, referring to their manner of movement, offering what looked like deer tracks as an example.

“Thirty-three inches between these imprints,” he said, eyeing his tape measure as he kneeled by some tracks. “A stride like that is a deer running.”

Sargent added that a coyote creates a much narrower set of tracks, and that a red fox would not have such a long stride. That the tracks were spotted near a hemlock tree, a favorite food source of deer, helps inform this conclusion. 

Someone asked about bear tracks, and word of the animal prompted a very brief hush in the group. 

“Bear tracks are hard to find because they’re not out in winter,” said Sargent. 

Asked whether tracks of certain animals found in this part of New Hampshire have changed over the three decades he has been tracking, Sargent said yes. 

“In the ’90s, you never saw bobcats around here,” he said. “Then around 2005, they started showing up at North Pack in Greenfield.”

Conversely, in the 1990s there were lots of moose -- and their tracks -- to be found in these parts. Sargent said that the infusion of winter ticks has killed much of this population off. The ticks bleed the animals, and this can lead to anemia. 

Sargent’s attention to detail is such that he picks up on the small imprint of a white-footed deer mouse, and knows the difference between the tracks of different squirrels. He decided that some tracks were from a gray, not red squirrel.

“Which is a little odd as red squirrels are more closely associated with a coniferous (trees that produce cones) forests. Gray squirrels are more closely associated with deciduous (leafy) forests. It seems that I'm not seeing as many red squirrels in the area as I used to.”

Kevin Wilkins of Greenville brought his children Silas and Marigold out for some spotting, and Silas employed his birding skills between tracking.

“That’s a golden crown kinglet,” said the 15 year-old at a sound overhead. He couldn’t see it, but knew the call, and others in the group agreed with him. 

While not in the snow, evidence of another creature was quite evident on a tree striped of some bark. Andrews was pretty sure of the source.

“A pileated woodpecker,” she said. 

Asked for advice as to how to start learning tracking skills, Sargent put it simply.

“A book, like Paul Rezendes’ helps, then just get out there,” he said.