Paw Print

Spencer · Mar 19, 2002

Here is the overlay pic of the dogs print. Both of these are animated gif files so you have to wait for them to completely download before you will see the overlay.

So what do you guys think now?

Spence

RanchMan · Mar 19, 2002

I vote wolf!

Spencer · Mar 19, 2002

Your probably right that it is a large dog. The overlay of the wolf looks like a better match to me but common sense tells me that there are not wolves here in Western Michigan. Either way at 5" it is a pretty big animal. The wife will not be going outside after dark anytime soon. It was a big enough change for her to move out into the woods after living in the city for the last 10 years. She was just getting use to it out here and then I had to go and show her these prints.

Spence

RanchMan · Mar 19, 2002

You could set up a motion activated game camera to snap a shot of it if it comes around again - that would remove all doubt (and be kindof fun too).

rancar · Mar 19, 2002

Neil,

Mothballs do wonders on all kinds of things....most effective animal control measure around /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. Keep us posted.

RobS · Mar 19, 2002

Looks like you better watch your flock of sheep there Spence. I think you've got yourself a wolf! Neat overlays too /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JTD · Mar 19, 2002

Nice overlays. According to my tracking book "Wolf tracks resemble large domestic dog tracks closely and are often impossible to tell apart. However, the inner toes of the front foot of a wolf tend to stay parallel and closer together than do those of a domestic dog, except when in a substrate that tends to spread the toes. Wolf trails tend to be more direct while dogs tend to wander and can be used to differentiate them." Either way its a large canine.

StoneHeartFarm · Mar 19, 2002

Spencer

Could be a wolf hybrid. For awhile they were quite popular, and there are still a lot of them running around. The biggest Hydbrids I've seen are about the size of a large shepard. As far as wild Wolves (I believe the grey wolf was native), there have't been any known in the Southern Peninsula in close to a hundred years, and the only reason they're in the UP is because the DNR has a breeding and protection program going on. So, relax. The odds are pretty long that this is a wild wolf, and if it is, that might actually be better than somebody's half wild dog.

SHF

AndyR · Mar 19, 2002

Rezendes is an excellent instructor. If you ever get a chance, take one of his courses. As for the print - I would definately say it is NOT a bear - wrong shape and size. If there were a number of prints that you could meaure stride and width of trail you might be able to narrow it down from generally canine to something more specific. That print looks pretty old and winter mud can easily distort print size.

Phred · Mar 22, 2002

Spencer,

Great overlays! Very neat idea.

The wolf and the dog tracks are very similiar. And in this case the wolf does appear to be a good match.
I ruled out the wolf since I figured that was far fetched for your location, but who knows.
I have bobcats and all sorts of other wild life but no wolves, and I am a lot more rural than you.
All sorts of wild dogs are common in this part of the world, perhaps your area also.

Tell your wife that she is probably a lot safer. I use to live in atlanta and I can tell you that rural areas are far safer than most cities. After all the most dangerous of all animals is the young male human.

Fred