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Click here for a printable version of this page.
Making your own tracking mat means that you can find out exactly what kind of creatures have been to visit you. Once you have some animal prints on your tracking mat you can use our guides to help you identify which cereatures they belong to.
You will need:
A pair of scissors, a strong black plastic bin liner, some sandpit sand (you can get this from a garden centre or DIY store), a small amount of water, a bucket or bowl, an old saucer or plate, some bait and a ruler.
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Start off with the black bin liner.
Carefully cut off the bottom, above the seam.
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Then cut again, this time all the way up the side.
Then open it out so that you have one big, flat sheet of black plastic.
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Now you need to cut the sheet of plastic into a circle.
The easiest way to do this is to fold it in half, and cut out a semi-circle.
When you open it out again you should have a full circle.
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Next lie the circle of black plastic on the ground, or in your garden - anywhere quiet and safe.
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Now, pour some sand into the bucket and mix in a little water.
You need just enough to make the sand a little but sticky - this will help it to hold the shape of the animal tracks.
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Pour the sand onto the black plastic sheet and spread it out evenly.
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A good tip is to use the edge of a ruler or stick and gently drag it over the sand.
This will help you to smooth out any humps and bumps and give a nice flat surface so you can see the tracks easily.
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To attract the animals, you need bait!
Porridge oats softened with a bit of milk are great but make sure you change it daily so the milk doesn't go off.
You could also use cat or dog food, crushed biscuits or even jam!
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Put your bait onto a saucer or shallow bowl and place this in the middle of the mat.
Push it down so that the top is level with the sand.
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Leave it overnight and let nature do the rest. It might happen overnight - or it could take a couple of days for the local creatures to get used to it.
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In the morning, check to see what creatures have visited. To identify the tracks you could use a book from the library, or look at the tracks on the next few pages.
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