Did a red fox pass this way? Could that be a bobcat print there in the dirt? Do those tracks belong to a domestic dog or a coyote? Combining lyrical memoir with an introduction to wildlife tracking, What Walks This Way explores the joys of learning to recognize the traces of the creatures with whom we share our world.

The nature writer Sharman Apt Russell tells stories of her experiences tracking wildlife—mostly mammals, from mountain lions to pocket mice—near her home in New Mexico, with lessons that hold true across North America. With wit and compassion, she guides readers through the basics of identifying tracks and signs, revealing a landscape filled with the marks left by browsing deer, predatory weasels, and inquisitive bears, skunks, and raccoons. Closely observing these traces, Russell also finds community, a sense of place, and a renewed connection with the nonhuman world. She explores the health of mammal populations in North America and questions common wildlife-management practices, calling for new approaches that better reflect current understandings of ecology. Above all, What Walks This Way is a celebration of all the wild animals secretly, stubbornly, and triumphantly roving through our cities, suburbs, and countryside.

"One dusty paw print can lead to a forest of wonders. [This book] is the perfect gentle introduction to the art of wildlife tracking." - Washington Independent Review of Books

"Unlike many other tracking guides, [Russell] focuses on introducing us to the animals themselves in addition to those tracks. From my point of view as a scientist trained in animal behavior, I think this is an important move that sets this book apart. One of my favorite things about the book is how Russell blends scientific facts from animal behavior, mammology, and geology with heartfelt stories from her time out in the field. Weaved in with this tapestry of personal stories, science, humor, and zany characters human and four-footed, Russell also communicates an important conservation message. By helping us look eye to eye with foxes, bears, opossums, and squirrels, by introducing us to the character of these distant, fascinating cousins, Russell issues a powerful call to action. I hope you’ll take the time to hear her out, and enjoy a new way to connect with the outdoors in the process." - Gulo in Nature