Wildlife Snapshot

Before the meeting: 

1. Research the type of animals (mammals, birds, insects, or reptiles) that are common in the area that you will be walking.  This includes domesticated and wild animals. 
2. Research the signs these animals leave behind. 
3. Gather copies of the Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record on each participant (youth and adult)
4. Review Annual Health and Medical Records for any restrictions that may impact participation

During the meeting: 

1. Bring copies of the Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record on each participant (youth and adult)
2. Gather Cub Scouts and share with them the type of animals you may encounter on your walk and the signs they leave behind.  Ask Cub Scouts if they know of any other animals you may have left out. 
3. Discuss the signs of the animals habitat, food sources, or travel paths. 
   • Listen for sounds. Not just the sound the animal would make, but also the sound of the animal moving. 
   • Look for where they live. A bird’s nest, a burrow (hole in the ground), or a plant. 
   • Look for what they eat. Many animals eat plants, so you might see a bite mark on a leaf. Others might go through trash that has food in it. 
   • Look for animal scat (poop). Different animals leave different types of scat. 
   • Look for animal tracks. If it has rained recently and there is mud, you may see footprints that animals left behind as they walked. 
4. Ask how we can respect wildlife.