HELP! - What animal track is this!

[MossflowerWoods]

Yesterday as my oldest daughter and I were measuring down my fire road for Horse Fence she discovered a large clawed print.

My first reaction was it was a bear cub's front paw. But I am positive it is not. There was no rear prints. we followed the tracks back as far as we could. it was a short stride (I keep wanting to say it had a short wheelbase, the tracks were closer together than I thought that size animal should be), the prints were basically in a single slightly wavering line, similar to how coyote tracks. There was only one set we could see. They were fresh, within last day I felt.

It is HUGE compared to the coyote tracks I've seen everywhere on my property. That is my hand next to it, and I wear a large or extra large glove so I don't have small hands.

Please advise. Is this yet another predator/varmint I need to kill? Is it a threat to my and neighbors horses? My kids?

I am VERY curious.

Thanks in advance,
Be well,
David

 

[Redneck in training]

My guess is it is a large dog.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

My guess is it is a large dog.

That was my second guess. But there are no dogs that big in the area, and the stride was VERY short.

I was wondering if it could be a wolf or a badger...

Maybe the neighbors got a new dog I have not seen yet...

I promised kmy daughter I whould post it here onTBN and get answers.

David

 

[irvingj]

My first guess also would be a dog; note how long the claws are- appears to me to be overly long, like an animal that's spent most of its time indoors. I'm not sure a wild animal would have claws so long.

Another possibility, perhaps: Are you aware that the "Eastern Coyote," now considered to be a sub-species, has been shown to have interbred with wolves? The eastern is larger than the "original" western coyote, especially in the jaw area.

Normal coyotes, as I understand it, pretty much stick to smaller prey, but the new, improved version will hunt in packs and go after deer. People around here often refer to them as "coy-dogs," but there was a study that showed that, whereas very few eastern coyotes had dog DNA, many had wolf DNA.

I did some research a while ago, because we lost a chicken in a very fast snatch & grab; the only track I could find was like a coyote, but larger....

Hope your shoulder's mending quickly. What's the status of the Harley?

 

[irvingj]

Oh, yeah, I forgot! I did take some photos of "my" track:


OOPS... and now, I'll actually add the photos....:ashamed:

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

Coyote is my guess...... they are showing up in my area.


Ronald

 

[MossflowerWoods]

IrvingJ,

The FXST has about $4,000 in damages.

Right side tank is getting repaired and painted, looks like me bags, and most of the right side pegs, brake, etc are getting replaced. Most of the cost is in parts...

They are also helping out with jacket, helmet, gloves...

All,

I know I have Coyote. I have seen 3 typical small ones running a deer trail last December, I have seen MANY tracks but much muc smaller.

I did see one brazen BIG coyote in my back yard in dayklight about 3:30 pm last April. He looked HUGE could not find tracks in yard. I charged down the hill growling and he fled,

David

 

[flyingcow]

Chupacabra?

 

[20 20]

Coyotes typically grow to 30–34 in (76–86 cm) in length, not counting a tail of 12–16 in (30–41 cm), stand about 23–26 in (58–66 cm) at the shoulder and, on average, weigh from 15–46 lb (6.8–21 kg).[3][12] Northern coyotes are typically larger than southern subspecies, with the largest coyotes on record weighing 74.75 pounds (33.91 kg) and measuring 1.75 m (5.7 ft) in total length.[

There are currently 19 recognized subspecies, with 16 in Canada, Mexico and the United States, and 3 in Central America.

A study headed out of New York State Museum analyzed the genetic history of 686 coyotes in the Northeast and concluded that most are coyote-wolf hybrids.

 

[MotorSeven]

I say it's a dog.

Moss....?? did you crash?

Edit: I found you post on the Front Porch...comments forthwith..........