The Trent Nature Areas offered an exceptional opportunity for animal tracking this winter, thanks to the significant snowfall received. Winter tracking, a key part of Trent's land stewardship work, best occurs after a significant snowfall, ideally around 10 cm, followed by a 24–48-hour window of no new snow. This allows the fresh tracks of various mammals to remain visible, offering a fascinating glimpse into the movement of wildlife across the campus.

“Tracking animal movements across campus in winter helps us gain a deeper understanding of their habitats and food sources during the colder months,” explains Gillian Johnson ’24 (Gzowski College), Trent’s Associate Land Stewardship Coordinator. “It’s also a vital part of our year-round fieldwork, guiding our efforts to identify key restoration areas and implement measures to protect species at risk and species of concern.”

Trent’s Symons Campus is home to 11 Nature Areas, which together with other green spaces comprise the University Green Network (UGN), first outlined in the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan. The UGN is a connected natural system that includes areas for habitat preservation and creation, corridors to facilitate wildlife movement, productive landscapes, and diverse green spaces covering 60% of the Symons Campus.

Gillian was joined in the field by Julia Turner (Otonabee College), a fourth-year Environmental Science/ Studies student, and Brianna Townsend (Lady Eaton College), a fourth-year Science and Geography student. Both students are completing placements with the land stewardship team, honing their skills through this valuable hands-on experience.

“While working as a land stewardship assistant, I have learned so many skills that will be transferable to other positions in the environmental field,” shares Julia. “It has been an invaluable experience that has taught me so much about species ID, proper sampling techniques, field work, management plans, and the land we study on.”

The team discovered tracks from various species, including beaver, raccoon, red fox, porcupine, and the elusive short-tailed weasel (Ermine).

“Winter tracking is a challenging yet rewarding fieldwork skill to learn,” says Brianna. “Not only has it deepened my understanding of the diverse wildlife in our Nature Areas, but it has given me valuable hands-on research experience in the field, reigniting my excitement and joy for learning.”

As spring approaches, the team will intensify its efforts in removing invasive species while monitoring various environmental indicators, including salamanders, owls, road mortality, turtles, snake hibernacula locations, amphibian calls, vegetation inventory, and breeding birds. Additionally, they will continue expanding no-mow planted areas across campus to further promote biodiversity and ecological health.

Visit the Trent Lands Plan website for the latest updates on initiatives within the UGN.