What kind of animal tracks are these?

GaryBDavis · Jul 30, 2008

Location is rual central Texas on the shores of a stock tank. I should have laid a quarter down beside the tracks to give an idea of size, but the largest one was about 3 inches in diameter overall.

Thanks!

ScottOkla · Jul 30, 2008

I don't see claw marks, so I would say bobcat.

N80 · Jul 30, 2008

Three inches is probably too big for a bobcat. But, I can see a racoon track in the picture and based on the size of it, I would agree that the track looks like bobcat. If it is really 3 inches and its really a bobcat....that's a big one! If it is bigger than three inches, maybe a coyote and the claw marks aren't showing.

Western · Jul 30, 2008

Not cat tracks, looks like a farm dog. The pic on the right looks alot like coyote due to its narrow shape but could also be a smaller dog.

GaryBDavis · Jul 30, 2008

I've always heard that dog/coyote tracks will have claw marks and cat tracks will not. I don't honestly know if that is true. I know my lab has pretty short toe nails and it's hard to make out the claw mark on some of his tracks. But these tracks are in pretty soft clay and any claw mark should have showed up.

If it is a cat, I'm betting on bobcat, but some folks say they have seen a mountain lion in the area. Then again, there's always a mountain lion sighting floating around these parts. I think most of them are just stories.

LMTC · Jul 30, 2008

Cat track, either bobcat or cougar, has a wider pad, flat toward the front. A few quick searches will show this. Looks lupine or canine, except for no claw marks.

N80 · Jul 30, 2008

Western said:
looks like a farm dog.

A farm dog? What color?

N80 · Jul 30, 2008

GaryBDavis said:
I've always heard that dog/coyote tracks will have claw marks and cat tracks will not.

I don't think that is a very reliable rule. I think if you see claw marks then it probably isn't a cat. But the absence of claw marks doesn't mean it is a cat.

Looking at the pics again, I would agree, it probably isn't a cat. Cat tracks are usually roundish and these are a bit round. What makes me think it isn't cat is this big thick toe pads.

So probably a small dog or a coyote.

MossRoad · Jul 30, 2008

I'm going to say cat tracks. You can't draw an X along the ridge pads as illustrated by this document. Scroll down in it to see. Also, no toe nail marks in soft mud. There should have been toe nails if it was a dog. Cats will leave claw marks sometimes, but dogs almost always leave toe nail marks, especially in soft soil like that. (cats have claws, dogs have toenails).

Also, look at the racoon track. It made nice, deep impression so a dog would have most likely made toe nail marks.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...at-kind-animal-tracks-these-2008-tracks-2.jpg

cowboy357 · Jul 30, 2008

Looks like Couger to Me . 3 inches is to big for a bobcat . & No nails showing , Not a dog IMO . also the toes are more rounded off on a dog where the cats have one toe comparable to Our index finger , & longer then the rest. like the ones in the pic . Just My opinion of coarse. Very interesting though. Heres a few links If You care to look .

Animal Tracks - Mountain Lion (Cougar) - Puma concolor

Animal Tracks - Bobcat (Felis rufus or Lynx rufus)

Canine vs. Feline Tracks - How to tell the difference between them.