Mammal Tracking Basics

How to measure a print Questions to ask … How many toes? Do the claws show? Shape of foot and toe pads? Size of front and back track? Walking on whole foot? Stride? Straddle? Substrate? Age of track? Method of measuring print sizes and claw length shown on coyote print (left). What else is around? Method of measuring metacarpal or proximal pad is shown on bear print (right). Gait? What other questions does Track Formula: the track ask??? EXAMPLE: f5(4) H5(4) co Is the track formula for the bear family: pay attention to negative F5(4): front print usually shows 5 toes (sometimes only 4 space! register), lowercase means the front print is smaller than the hind

H5(4): Hind print usually shows 5 toes (occasionally only 4); is larger than front foot co means claws often show “H” grey fox front “C” bobcat front C = claws usually show “X” front coyote co = claws often show cr = claws rarely show 4 Toes front and hind: = claws don’t show F4 h4 C:Dog Family F4 h4: Cat Family Gait & Trail Measurements: f4 H4 cr: Rabbits, Hares Stride, Straddle, Group, & Intergroup

Straddle: 5 Toes front and hind: Stride: distance measured f5 H5 co: Raccoon Family from where one perpendicular footprint appears in f5(4) H5(4) co: Weasel Family to the line of the trail to the next f5(4) H5(4) co: Bear Family travel at the point that a footprint widest line of made by the same a trail or f4 H5; Rodent Order (very diverse) foot appears group pattern f2(4) and h2(4): Deer Order

Prepared by Gwen Heistand Group: when mammals walk they leave a pattern For ACR Education consisting of two parallel lines. When they speed up, References & diagrams: they leave patterns characteristic of their gait. These 1. Mammal Tracking in Western patterns are called groups, measured from the leading America by James Halfpenny & Elizabeth Biesiot end of the pattern to the trailing end of same pattern 2. Mammal Tracks & Sign by Mark (include all 4 feet). Intergroup: measurement between Elbroch leading point of one pattern to trailing point on next. 3. Pacific Coast Mammals by Ron Russo & Pam Olhausen Group or Toes Toes Claws Track Size Normal Track Shape Gait Pattern, etc. Family Front Rear Showing? (inches) Gait

F: 2.0x2.5 diagonal 44 no Cat H: 2.1x1.9 walkers

F: 2.5x2.35 diagonal 44 yes Dog H: 2.25x1.9 walkers

F: 1.5x1.0 gallopers/ 44some Rabbit H: 2.0x1.0 hoppers

gallopers/ 4 5 some H:1.3 - 1.45 Rodent pacers

F:0.5x0.6 H: 0.6x0.7 bounders/ 55some heel of hind Weasel pacers foot not incl in measurement Raccoon: F: 2.5x2.5 Raccoon H: 4.0x2.3 55 yes pacers Opposum Opossum F:1.5x2.1 H:2.2x1.9

F: 2x2.5 in H: diagonal hoof hoof n/a Deer 2.1x1.9 in walkers

Bear Cat Human Raccoon

How does animal place it’s foot on the ground?