# Two Habitats, Six Hours

Part of the Mammal Study Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/mammal-study/guide/index.md)

*3. Field Study Options*

> **3a.** Spend three hours in two different kinds of natural habitats or at different elevations for a total of 6 hours. List the different mammal species and how many of each you identified by sight or sign. Tell why all mammals do not live in the same kind of habitat.

This option turns you into a field detective. You are not just making a list of mammals. You are comparing two places and asking why different species show up in one habitat but not the other. That is the heart of ecology.

## Choosing Two Good Study Areas

Pick places that are clearly different. Good pairs include:

- stream corridor and dry upland woods
- meadow edge and dense forest
- suburban greenbelt and marsh
- lower elevation trail and ridge overlook

The stronger the contrast, the easier it will be to explain differences in mammal presence.

**What to Record in Both Habitats** — Bring the same level of detail to each outing

- [ ] Date and start/end time
- [ ] Weather and temperature
- [ ] Habitat type and major plants
- [ ] Mammals seen directly
- [ ] Signs found: tracks, scat, burrows, browse, chew marks, fur, beds, trails
- [ ] Estimated count of each species or sign set
- [ ] Human disturbance such as roads, dogs, noise, or buildings

## Sight or Sign Still Counts as Evidence

Many mammals are active when you are not. That means **sign** is just as important as direct observation. A deer may be gone, but fresh tracks, clipped browse, and droppings tell you it used that area. A beaver may be hidden, but cut sticks and a lodge are strong evidence. A small mammal may never show itself, but a burrow entrance, seed husks, and a runway through grass reveal its presence.

![Side-by-side comparison of deer tracks, raccoon tracks, scat, gnawed sticks, and a small mammal burrow entrance](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/mammal-study/guide/mammal-sign-comparison?v=a37f2d15)

## Why Mammals Do Not All Live in the Same Habitat

This part is the real science question in the requirement. Mammals differ because they need different combinations of:

- food
- shelter and nesting sites
- water
- cover from predators or weather
- room to move
- temperature conditions they can tolerate

A meadow vole thrives where there is thick grass cover. A flying squirrel needs wooded habitat with trees for shelter and movement. A muskrat is strongly tied to wetlands. A pronghorn needs open country. Habitat is not random. It matches a species' body design, behavior, diet, and survival strategy.

> **Did You Know?**
>
> Some mammals can use the same broad area in very different ways. A fox may travel across an open field to hunt, while a mouse in that same field rarely ventures far from cover because open ground is much more dangerous for it.

## A Simple Way to Organize Your Report

For each habitat, make a table or neat list.

| Habitat | Mammal or sign | Count | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creek edge | Raccoon | 2 track sets | Tracks in mud near water |
| Creek edge | Beaver | 1 active area | Cut saplings and lodge |
| Dry ridge | White-tailed deer | 4 | Direct sighting at dusk |
| Dry ridge | Eastern gray squirrel | 6 | Sightings and feeding sign |

Then finish with a comparison paragraph:

- Which mammals appeared in both places?
- Which showed up only in one place?
- What habitat features explain those differences?

## Official Resources

Use these resources to sharpen your track and sign skills before you head out.

Video: [How to Find Mammal Signs (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8DfP0Nh7kA)

[Animal Tracks Identification Guide | Animal Footprint ID Charts (website)](https://www.greenbelly.co/pages/animal-tracks-identification-guide): A visual guide that helps you compare track shapes and common field clues when you are trying to identify mammals by sign.

> **Safety First!**
>
> Choose observation sites where you can legally and safely be present. Avoid approaching dens, young animals, or any mammal that may feel cornered. If your study area includes roads, steep ground, water, or dusk travel, plan for visibility and a safe exit.

> **Tip**
>
> If you find uncertain evidence, label it honestly as “possible raccoon” or “small rodent sign” instead of guessing. Careful uncertainty is better science than a confident wrong answer.

After comparing two habitats, you may decide you prefer repeated visits to one place. The next option shows how to do that well.

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- Previous: [Choose Your Field Study](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/mammal-study/guide/req3/index.md)
- Next: [Five-Day Observation Log](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/mammal-study/guide/req3b/index.md)