Sand is like a giant tracking tunnel, and is a good place to spot tracks and signs of pest invaders. Look out for tracks along sandy beaches whenever possible.
These prints and photos will help you to identify the presence of rodents and stoats.
Download the rodent and stoat indicators (PDF, 376K).
The layout of rat tracks is fairly circular in shape, and if you draw a line between the toes 1 and 4 on the fore foot (line A-B), the line will bisect or lie behind of the central foot pad.
Mouse tracks are similar in layout to rat tracks but much smaller. Sometimes they only leave sets of 3 toe prints. Look for patterns that repeat themselves at regular intervals
The layout of stoat tracks is more oblong in shape, often furry, with toes 2 and 3 close together. A line drawn between toes 1 and 4 on the fore foot (line A-B) will lie in front of the central foot pad.
Rat droppings
Mouse droppings
Stoat droppings
Rat track in the sand
Stoat track