Track Confirmation

jca21

jca21

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
3,188
I had some time to kill between lectures so i decided to take a walk on a beautiful day at my university. My university just so happens to be located on top of a mountain with spectacular views :cool:

anyways i was out doing some tracking and trying to find useful plants and trees when i found this track. the imprint in the mud was fairly fresh and i was wondering if you guys could help me identify the animal. There are cougars, coyotes, bears and deer around the mountain. I'm quite sure its not a deer or a bear as the tracks do not match so i'm assuming its either a coyote or a cougar.

IMG00055.jpg


at the moment i'm leaning towards a large coyote track.


anyone help confirm?

thanks

JC
 
I'm no expert compared to some of the people on here, but the pad shape looks distinctly canine to me. Also I think that cats do not keep their claws out, which would also mean this is canine. I really can't tell the size of the track (sometimes a dollar bill or a coin or a lighter or knife or something on the ground next to the track when you take the picture can really help) but while it could be a coyote, it could also be a domesticated dog. I'm sure alot of people will have alot to add to my introductory explanation though.
 
cmdionne said:
I'm no expert compared to some of the people on here, but the pad shape looks distinctly canine to me. Also I think that cats do not keep their claws out, which would also mean this is canine. I really can't tell the size of the track (sometimes a dollar bill or a coin or a lighter or knife or something on the ground next to the track when you take the picture can really help) but while it could be a coyote, it could also be a domesticated dog. I'm sure alot of people will have alot to add to my introductory explanation though.
Click to expand...

sorry for the lack of a comparison item. im a noobie tracker :D

will make sure to post an item with it for comparison if i run into another track :)
 
USMCSNIPER34 said:
That is definatly a coyote track
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Why do we think that?

There's no physical difference between a coyote track and a dog track except... coyotes sometimes have a larger central toe pads compared to the outer ones. And these look the same size to me, ergo, dog.

More tracks, especially a photo showing them in a row, would be helpful due to the coyote's peculiar preference for trotting in a mostly straight line. Dogs tend to use a walking pattern, but dogs tend to wander when walking off-leash from side to side checking out scents.

Also, I can point out the amount of debris in the print. That track has been there for a couple of days at least, and may therefore have enlarged slightly.

RescueRiley said:
coyote track..cougars (and all cats) do not leave nail marks when walking.
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True. Cougars, and most cats, will leave claw marks if running or climbing, but practically never when merely walking.
 
the trail was in an area where people arent supposed to be walking which kinda pointed me towards a guess that its a coyote track over a dog track.
 
Coyote or Dog...not a cat.
 
Brad "the butcher";6522444 said:
from the toes and the depth of the print I would say dog not coyote.
U.B.C. or S.F.U?
Click to expand...

SFU. on the mountainside off the regular trail networks and roads.

RescueRiley said:
also it could be a Lycan..was it a full moon the night before??
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i better stock up on my supply of silver bullets :)
 
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