With the exception of the feathered friends who ply our bird feeders (and the rascal squirrels that rob their share), it’s easy to believe that most other creatures have vanished into thin air at this time of year. Animals we often encounter in warmer months seem to be absent as we hike or drive in the Upper Delaware River region. 

In reality, there is ample evidence of their activity all about. Those willing to tune in to what is transpiring in the winter landscape will be rewarded with a growing awareness of the hidden lives of regional wildlife by observing the signs they leave behind, such as droppings, turned-over stones, claw marks on trees and more.

Learn about the clues that animals leave behind during a January 28 program, “Animal Tracking,” from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA ($5 per person). Participants will hunt for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, chew marks and other signs of animal life in the fields and forests of the PEEC campus in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Visit www.peec.org for more information.