Animal Tracks ?

[EddieWalker]

Never heard of a fox with a print that was 2 1/2 inches long. Even in soft soil, that's just too big. Coyote would be the right size, but the lac of claws makes it hard to think of it as a dog species. I have them all over my place, and they always have very pronounced claw marks.

I agree that the length versus width has me second guessing it, but the back pads will be longer then the front ones on a cat. I don't know if the soft soil will make it more so, or not.

I also know that size and width vary among the same animals.

Since the only for sure thing is the claws, it's either one or the other. If there are claw marks, then it'd a dog of some kind. If not, it's a cat of some kind.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Eddie, I think the claw marks may close up in wet soil. From what I have always thought, the outside pads are behind and under the front pads. On a cat track, the pads are rounder and in a more perfect semi-circle so as to make the track wider in relation to depth.

Bobcat Tracks

Coyote Tracks

 

[weldingisfun]

Looks more like a canine track to me. Cat tracks are more wide and evenly spaced where dog tracks are more pointed like that one. In the second picture I think I see claw marks in front of the middle toes. Judging by the small size and the short length of stride, I'd go with fox.

I agree with stravis.