Winter has finally arrived. We have been receiving regular lake effect snow fall of an inch or two (or more) just about every day for the last week.

The snow has made it relatively easy to track movements of some of the local wildlife through the snow.

Can you identify the animals based on their tracks in the snow?

Click through for the answers and some additional information.

The first picture is a close-up print from a rabbit. You can clearly see the 2 larger back feet and small front feet.  Here is a picture of more rabbit tracks with several feet between the prints as the rabbit jumps from one to the next.

Rabbit tracks.

The second picture shows lines carved through the snow. The lines are actually tunnels under the snow made by small rodents such as field mice and voles. The snow provides them with cover and allows them to tunnel under the snow and move across the grass with less risk from owls and other predators.

Rodent tracks with chicken tracks over top.

It is not just the local wildlife; the chickens also make easily identifiable tracks in the snow when they venture out of their coop for some fresh air.

Chicken tracks.