Whether one lives in a rural or an urban environment, chances are there will be some place near by that wildlife reside. As large as a deer or as tiny as a mouse, when the dirt is soft animals leave behind beautiful footprints. These tracks are perfect record of the shy animals that walk past when people are not looking, and preserving these tracks in plaster can be a fun and educational way to learn about local wildlife.
To create a plaster cast, a track will first need to be found. Obviously they will be in soft earth, perhaps near a low spot where water tends to puddle. Beyond that, a tracker must learn to think like an animal to figure out where animals live.
Consider the land, and where animals might hide, sleep, eat, and drink. Animals make fabulous "roads" for themselves, often following the same path as well as sharing it with other animals, especially when it comes to a water source. Once these animal highways are found, finding tracks should not be very difficult. The next step is to identify and preserve the track.
There is a multitude of animal tracking books and web sites available to help identify the track. Make sure to use a field guide specific to your area.
Materials Needed to Create Your Plaster Cast
- Plaster of Paris (quick- drying)
- Disposable bowl and spoon for mixing
- Water in a portable container
- A 2-liter soda bottle, top and bottoms cut off so that you are left with a cylinder at least 5 inches tall
- Paper clip
- Small shovel or trowel
- Soft wire brush, toothpicks
How to Make Your Plaster Cast
- After the track has been found, carefully remove any obstructing leaf or other matter to make the cast as clean as possible.
- Situate the soda bottle around your entire trace. Try to slide it into the ground as best as possible to create a barrier for the plaster of Paris.
- Mix the plaster of Paris and water in the disposable bowl and spoon. (The bowl and spoon can be reused if cleaned promptly, before the plaster hardens.) The consistency should be that of a thick cream, but not lumpy. Make sure to stir the lumps out completely.
- Pour the plaster of Paris into the track. Pour enough so that the track is totally filled and the plaster is at least one inch thick above the track.
- Gently bend the paper clip in half so that a small hook is created and set it into the top of the plaster. This hook can be used to hang the cast on the wall if desired.
- Leave the track sit for at least 45 minutes to set.
- With the shovel, dig completely around the cast, dirt and all and let it sit to cure completely overnight, either at home or someplace where it will not be disturbed.
- Once the cast has completely cured, use the brush and toothpicks to carefully clean the dirt away from the cast.
Children and adults alike will enjoy this easy nature education activity. Not only is it amazing to preserve the footprint of an animal no one may have ever seen, but learning to track is an excellent way to improve a relationship with nature.
 |
 |
