You might not see a black bear, but you can tell where one has been by looking for tracks. When traipsing through the snow and mud, keep an eye out for telltale signs of those who have been there before you. Amateur animal trackers with a good guidebook can tell a lot from the size, shape and consistency of scat, the way a branch is chewed and the habitat in which the evidence is found. But any outdoor enthusiast can note animal presence with a footprint.
Prints are rectangular, have one lobe on front of pad and usually show claws.
The print pictured here is of a snowshoe hare, commonly seen in Boulder mountains. This hare hops with back feet forward and smaller rounder feet behind. Front foot shows metatarsal pad and claws and is square in shape. Back foot looks very human-like. Both have five toes.