Bighorn Sheep Bighorn sheep tracks: Badger Badger tracks: River Otter River otter tracks: BIG GAME Front track slightly larger Front track significantly larger Front/Rear– 2” L, 2-1/4” W TRACKS AND SIGNS OF A POCKET GUIDE NORTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE Front–2-1/8” - 3-3/8” L, Often than rear Walking stride: 5-3/4” - 14” 1-1/2” - 3” W Front–3-1/2” L, 2” W White-tailed deer White-tailed deer tracks: displays Identifying wildlife tracks is a learned art that Front track slightly larger Rear–2” - 3-1/4” L, Rear–2-1/2” L, 1-3/4” W Front–1-3/8” - 4” L, 1/2” - 2-3/8” W imprints of Walking stride: 5-1/2” - 9-3/4” takes practice in the field. 7/8” - 2-7/8” W Walking stride: 12”-25” large front Diane Hargreaves Tracking is a great way to understand which Rear–1-1/4” - 3-1/2” L, claws. Trails Otter tracks in snow are species are present, as well as understand the 3/4” - 2-3/8” W Hoof print often begin often accompanied by Walking stride: 13” - 26” and end with relationships between animals, their food sources generally sliding marks or tail White-tailed less pointed a burrow. and favored habitats throughout the year. deer walking dragging. pattern in front. Track identification can be a bit easier by know- Muskrat Muskrat tracks: in snow Front– 1” L, 1” W ing what species are more likely to be found in a FURBEARERS Raccoon Raccoon tracks: Rear– 2.5” L, 1” W given area or habitat. Mule deer Mule deer tracks: Front–1-1/2” L, 2” W This guide provides general descriptions and Front track slightly larger Coyote Coyote tracks: Rear– 3” L,, 1-1/2” W A “shelf” impres- sizes of common North Dakota species. The foot Front–2-1/4” - 4” L, Front–2-1/2” L, 2” W sion surrounds 1-5/8” - 2-3/4” W Rear– 2” L,1-1/2” W Toes of the front the toes of the patterns which are presented on the ground may Rear–2” - 3-1/2” L, Walking stride: 13-1/2” - 17” vary, depending on whether the creature is walk- feet of a raccoon hind feet created 1-1/2” - 2-3/8” W appear “finger- ing, running, galloping or trotting. Walking stride: 15” - 25” by the stiff, long Exhibits a “hopping” like”. hairs that aid in An impression will be easier to identify in soft movement called Dog family – Canidae swimming. earth such as that found around the edge of a stotting where tracks – tracks typically show wetland. Sand and snow may be more challeng- are separated by an nail prints. Track pattern 8-15 foot stride. can vary depending on Beaver Beaver tracks: ing. Striped Skunk Skunk tracks: Front– 2” L, 2” W whether animal is walk- Front– 1” L, 1” W Pronghorn tracks: Rear– 6” L, 4” W Use other animal markings such as scat, home Pronghorn ing, galloping or trotting. Rear– 1-1/2” L, 1” W building or other behavioral signs nearby to assist Front and rear tracks Distinctive triangle Distinctive larger similar size in narrowing down your best guess. Also, think shaped rear pad. Distinctive rear track with 2-1/8” - 3-1/2” L webbed toes. what would make more sense given the location. 1-1/2” - 2-1/4” W long nails on Red Fox Red fox tracks: Beavers drag their For example, a cottontail rabbit in a sitting posi- Walking stride: 17” - 26” Front foot larger than rear front tracks. tails which often tion underneath a back yard deck may leave an Front–2-1/4” L, 1-3/4” W Walking pat- terns often cover up their impression of overlapping tracks that at first could Rear– 2” L, 1”W Walking stride: 8” - 12” irregular. tracks. appear as a large predator track. A large dog would also leave a print looking a lot like a wolf. Lack dew claws. Moose Moose tracks: To learn more, acquire a comprehensive guide Front track slightly larger containing much more information on the subject. Front–4-1/2” - 7” L, Long-tailed Weasel Long-tailed weasel tracks: Fisher Fisher tracks: Here are two excellent resources: 3-3/4” - 6” W Front/Rear–1” L, 1”W Front/Rear– 2” L, 2-1/2” W Similar to Walking stride: 7” - 11-1/2” • Mammal Tracks & Sign – A guide to North deer, but Rear–4” - 6-1/2” L, Dog family – Canidae – nail prints often present. larger. Adult 3-1/2” - 4-1/2” W Dense fur in foot often makes track less identifiable. American Species by Mark Elbroch Walking stride: 28” - 44” bulls will Similar to • Tracking and the Art of Seeing How to Read have blunt marten, Bobcat Bobcat tracks: Trails often explore Animal Tracks and Sign by Paul Rezendes hoof tips. holes, nooks and only larger. Cat family – Front/Rear– 2” L,1-3/4” W crannies in brush- Males twice Mostly, have fun and learn what you can by Felidae – no nail Walking stride: 6” - 14” piles, under buildings as large as simply being out there! Elk Elk tracks: prints – retractable and under the snow. females. Front track slightly larger claws. Exceptions may Weasels often move in Front–3” - 5” L, be climbing, on slippery a bounding pattern like Chris Grondahl 2-1/2” - 4-1/2” W surfaces and chasing Rear– 2-1/2” - 4-1/2” L, mink. TRACKS AND SIGNS OF NORTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE AND SIGNS OF NORTH DAKOTA TRACKS prey. Rear pad has two 2-1/2” - 4” W American Marten Marten tracks: Walking stride: 18”18 - 35” front lobes. Twice the size of housecat tracks. Mink Mink tracks: Front/Rear– 1-1/2” L, 1-1/2” W The NDGFD receives federal financial assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Front/Rear– 1-1/4” L, 1-1/2” W Walking stride: 5” - 9” Service. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of Mountain Lion Mountain lion tracks: Walking stride: 3-1/2” - 7-3/4” the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Elk tracks Front– 3” L, 3-1/2” W the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the NDGFD joins the US Department of the Interior and its Bureaus in Rear– 3” L, 3” W Mink Bottom of foot can Walking stride: 19” - 32” be hairy, to the prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, The big game hoof prints above show tracks in sex (in education programs or activities) and also religion for the NDGFD. If you snow a “relaxed” track of walking on even point where it will believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility No nail prints - obscure pad details. as described above, or you desire further information, please write to: ND Game terrain. A hoof print may be spread retractable claws. and Fish Department, Attn: Chief Administrative Services, 100 N. Bismarck apart or “splayed” (see left) as an ani- Male marten may be Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 or to: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Rear pad has two confused with female Civil Rights Coordinator, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP- 4020, Arlington, mal attempts to get more traction mov- front lobes. Tracks Tracks often appear pointy and sharp. Virginia 22203. The TTY/TTD (Relay ND) number for the hearing or speech ing downhill, running or in loose soil. fisher. are round and Snow movement pattern often a hopping Brian Fauske impaired is 1-800-366-6888. Except for pronghorn, tracks may show asymmetrical. or loping in sets of two. Dew Claw dew claw imprints in soft substrate. 0 INCHES Vole Damage – Voles are small, mouse- Fox Squirrel Fox squirrel tracks: Upland Game Dust Bowls – Moose Scat – sized mammals that live in the prairies of OTHER ANIMALS Rear track larger ANIMAL SIGNS Upland game birds such as Moose scat is North Dakota. They are an excellent food Front–1-3/4” L, 1” W sharp-tailed grouse, pheasant larger than elk and Gray wolf tracks: Rear–2-1/4” L, 1-1/4” W Tracks are one way to determine what wildlife, and possibly how source for many species including fox, deer and is oblong Gray Wolf Often con- and turkey “bathe” in dust to Front– 4-1/2” L, 4” W many, are presently living or passing through a particular habitat. coyote and birds of prey. Vole popula- and rounded on fused with help minimize body parasites. Vole damage Rear– 4” L, 3-1/2” W tions cycle from low to high densities over both ends. It is rabbit tracks; Without actually seeing tracks, there are other ways to determine Dust bowls are found in locations Walking stride: 13” - 24” a number of years. In winters with heavy snow, voles are still about ¾-inch in rabbit front the presence of wildlife. The following section may aid you in iden- where soil is exposed such as active beneath the snow, eating what vegetation they can find, diameter and an 12345678 feet appear tifying some common signs left behind by North Dakota wildlife. cultivated tree plantings or under Dog family – Upland game including tree bark. Damage beneath the snow revealed after Moose scat inch to an inch with one in dense brush. Feathers and tracks dust bowls Canidae – nail the spring thaw is a sign the vole population is high.