Footprints

What are the steps to identifying footprints?

Study the overall shape of the track

(Is the track circular oval lopsided? Is it wider at the front or wider at the back? Are the toes symmetrical or asymmetrically arranged?

Count number of toes

(Make sure all the toes shown in the image are counted for don’t miss one)
Look for claws

(Only few show claws)

Observe the size of the track

What track is this?

Big Horn Sheep

The tracks are the only ones that look like that

2.5 inches

What foot print is this?

Elk front 4’

The only one with the dots behind and in the hind track it has it in the front and back of the footprint ( also more wider and straight than the mule deer or pronghorn)

What footprint is this?

Mule deer ( Can only mistake with pronghorn but mules is thicker and pronghorns is more sharp and curved )

Also the Mule deer hind track is much thicker than the pronghorns

What footprint is this?

Bobcat (2 inches)

-4 toed and no claws shown its between this and mountain lion both have that triangular palm

-lobed feet and it walks following the same path

What footprint is this?

Mountain Lion 4.5 inches

-4 toed and no claws its between this and bobcat

-But bobcat follows a path mountain lion alternates side to side when walking

-deformed lobes

What footprint is this?

Cayote (2.25 inches)

Claws but not padding its lobed and follows a path

Wider than common gray fox

What footprint is this?

red fox (2 inches)

more defined palm

Follows a path

The snow cast shows on the hind as well

What footprint is this?

common gray fox

Follows a path but less wide than cayote

To me it looks like porcupine but with claws

What footprint is this?

Common Raccoon- Looks like a normal hand skinnyish and has claws also the it follows a path but 2 feet at a time not 1 foot at a time

What footprint is this?

Virginia opossum

Looks like a frog footprint They dont follow a path they alternate

What footprint is this

American Marten

no snow cast and follows the same path

palm looks a sharp blobbed rectangle

What footprint is this?

L0ong tailed weasel

Has snow cast

Palm looks like rectangle someone took a small bite out of

Walks in one path but 2 feet at a time

What footprint is this?

Mink

Has a palm triangle but looks like someone took a huge bite out of it

Diamond shaped toes

has a cast

follows one path but 2 feet at a time

What footprint is this?

Northern river otter

-no cast

5 toes?

follows a path not 2 feet at a time only 1

2 lobed palm

What footprint is this?

Striped skunk

-Have missing little middle section in the palm

-walk following path

front footprint shows claws

What footprint is this?

Eastern gray squirrel

dots like porcupine have small claws

the footprint looks like a mouth the front one

they have 4 toes front and 4 toes in the back

cast may show

What footprint is this?

American Beaver

• single lobed palm

• Human hand but of a child

• Walks in a path 2 feet at a time like racoon however they walk side to side not straight

• Shorter claws?

What footprint is this?

common porcupine

What footprint is this?

Common muskrat

-Walks in a alternating path one foot at a time

-has like a deformed hand

-hind leg palm is not dented to have more on the right like american beaver

What footprint is this?

Black bear (4 inches)
Look like huge dots with tiny claws walk alternating path one foot at a time

huge dot behind it

What footprint is this?

Walks path 1 by 1

Seems to be opening or curving