run (tracking)

A well-worn path through vegetation used regularly by animals — a visible route through grass, brush, or undergrowth where repeated passage has beaten down the plants, compacted the soil, and created a narrow corridor of movement. Animal runs are as deliberate as roads and often as old. They connect bedding areas to water, feeding areas to cover, and one part of a territory to another. Some runs are used by multiple species; others are exclusive. The width and height of the cleared corridor tell you what’s using it.