Be careful when comparing prints from different locations and times. The heavier the animal, the deeper the print it will leave. Look for additional prints and other tracks to help fill in these blanks.ĭepth: Depth is useful when comparing tracks left in the same substrate at the same time. There is some grey area - a feline may bring out its nails because it is on alert or a dog won't sink down enough to imprint its nails. Nails: Nails are a huge find when you can see them! Canines tend to leave a nail print while felines don't since they can retract their nails. Number of Toes: The number of toes is important to tell the major groups of animals apart! Bear have five toes, while canines and felines have four, for example. In these cases, you need to look for other clues, such as the tracks of the mother wolf or multiple tracks from a litter of fox kits. A wolf pup may have the same size print as an adult fox. Within the canines, a fox print will be smaller than a wolf print. Width/Length: Width and length help you tell the difference between closely related animals. You need to get up close and personal with the print, examining the details such as the size of each print, the number of toes, and more. This pattern of leapfrogging is found in rabbits and rodents like mice, red squirrels, and chipmunks.įinding the track pattern helps you narrow down the animal you are trying to identify into larger groups, but that is only the first step of identification. Hoppers: Hoppers move by placing their rear feet slightly ahead of their front feet and pushing off so their front feet land first and their back feet land in front. Otters, weasels and other mustelids are bounders. Their tracks appear as two paws that fall side-by-side. Bear, skunk, woodchuck, raccoon, muskrat, beaver, porcupine are waddlers.īounders: Bounders place their front feet down, and in one motion they leap forward by lifting up their front feet and putting their rear feet in the exact spot where the front feet previously landed.

Their rear foot does not land in the print of front foot. Waddlers: Waddlers appear to move one side of their body and then the other side when they walk. Deer, moose, fox, coyote, bobcat are perfect walkers.

This gait leaves a zig-zag pattern that is easy to spot. Their rear paw/hoof will land in the spot where their front paw previously fell. Zig-Zaggers (Perfect Walkers): Perfect walkers walk very carefully to conserve energy. There are four unique track patterns which will help you narrow down the group of animals that are responsible for the print. The first thing you should look for when you find an animal track is the track pattern.

Take some time to examine the surrounding environment - you may find other signs of the animal or additional clues to help you ID the print. Use the tips and tricks below to figure out what animal just crossed your path. Animal tracks in snow, mud, sand or any other soft substrate are easier to spot and you may have to look up and look around you when tracking to find them. You sometimes see the scat they leave behind, but if conditions are right, you may stumble upon some tracks. They lurk in the thick brush, hide in the trees or are nocturnal and only come out at night. Animals are around us in the woods, but we often don't know they are there.

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