If you are already a tracker, you know what novice trackers will learn in theirfirst day: The animal whose tracks you just identified is going to call you out.Where am I going, it will say. Why am I traveling alone? Why did I bypass thisperfectly good food? How recently was I here? Why did I take this side trail?The tracks won’t answer everything, but they do tell you more than youprobably think. Mood, posture, speed, and personality. The reason for achoice of a bedding site. The current place in this year’s rearing of young.Deliberate avoidance of another of its species. An exploratory urge or hungryfocus.Most importantly, the tracks begin the conversation between you and theanimal, the animal leading the way because it’s the one with the answers.You don’t need to be an accomplished tracker to hold up your end of theconversation, but it’s best to know how to read what else is in the tracksbesides the identity of its maker. And, it’s essential to bring in biology andbehavior too.