NATURE NB'S GUIDE TO: ANIMAL TRACKS
*Photos of animals and tracks are not to scale*
Hooves with two toes: "cloven- m c
Deer:
hoofed" 8
- Front and back feet are the same m c size and shape. 4 Pointed top and rounded bottom Toes spread and dewclaws show Toes when on soft ground or when deer spread is running
Dewclaw
Moose: Hooves with two toes: "cloven-hoofed" Front and back feet are the
same size and shape. m c
Pointed top and rounded 8 1
-
bottom m
Very similar to deer but c
3
much larger 1 Bobcat: 4 padded toes on each foot Front and back feet are
similar size and shape
No claw marks m c
Very similar to house cat 5 track but double the size.
Coyote: 4 padded toes on each foot
Front and back feet are m c similar size and shape 9
- Claw marks usually m
present c
6
Red Fox: 4 padded toes on each foot
Front and back feet are m c 5 .
similar size and shape 7
- Claw marks usually m c
present Very similar to coyote 5 tracks, but smaller
*Domestic dog tracks look very similar to coyote tracks and fox tracks, but coyotes and foxes usually walk in a straight line while dogs like to wander! Also, look for boot prints that tell you someone was walking beside their dog! 5 finger like toes on
Raccoon: m c
each foot 5 . 7 Claw marks sometimes -
present, but not always 5 Back foot longer than
front foot m c 5 . 9
-
m c 6
5 finger like toes on each m c Beaver: foot 9
-
Back feet are webbed 6 Claw marks sometimes present
Back foot much longer than m c
7
front foot 1
- Tracks are hard to find m c
because the beavers big 1 1 tail wipes them out as it drags behind
Muskrat: 5 finger like toes on each foot Similar to beaver tracks, but back feet are not webbed Claw marks sometimes present Back foot longer than front foot Rat-like dragging tail mark may be seen m c
5 . 7
-
5 m c Black Bear: 5 . 3 1
5 padded toes on each -
5 .
foot 5 Claw marks sometimes 7
present . 5
c
Back feet much longer m
-
than front feet 2 0
c m
Porcupine: 4 padded toes on front feet 5 padded toes on back feet Claw marks present Drag marks from quills may m
be seen on either side of c
the tracks 5 4
5 padded toes on each -
Skunk: 5 . foot 5 c Claw marks present m Back feet longer than front feet m c 5 . 9
-
m c 6 Snowshoe Hare: m c
5
4 toes on front and back, but 1
-
furry feet make toe shape hard 0 1 to see Back feet much larger than front feet Summer Back feet land in front of front coat feet m c
Front feet usually land one in 5 . 7
-
Winter coat front of the other 5
Squirrel: 5 padded toes on each foot Claw marks present Back foot longer than front foot m c Back feet land in front of front 5
- feet 5 . Front feet land side by side 3
2.5 - 3.5 cm
Mouse: Back and front feet similar size and shape m c
5 .
Back feet land in front of front 1 feet m c Front feet land side by side 5 .
Tail drag mark present 0 Canada Goose:
3 toes pointing forward Feet are webbed m c
5 . 7
Mallard Duck:
3 toes pointing forward Feet are webbed
Similar to Canada m c
goose, but smaller 5
American Crow: 3 toes pointing forward 1 toe pointing
backwards m c
Feet are not webbed 5 . 7
-
5 . 6