cat track?
- Thread starter murf
- Start date
- Status
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
No bigger than it is, offhand I'd say bobcat. If it was a cougar, it was a fairly young one.
I've set my clenched fist on a cougar track, and there was about an inch of footprint outside of my fist.
I've set my clenched fist on a cougar track, and there was about an inch of footprint outside of my fist.
The Bushmaster
Member
Bob cat or linx.
SoonerMedic
Member
It almost looks like two prints that are just off from each other....I'll see if I can draw what I'm seeing.
SoonerMedic
Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
mcb
Member
Far from a tracking expert but I do see at least one claw mark (second toe from the bottom of the image) and I think that is two tracks nearly on top of each other. Offset side to side (up-down in the picture). I would guess big coyote where his rear foot stepped nearly into a front foot tract. Really soft ground would make a tract look larger than the foot that made it.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Bobcat paws are surprisingly large for the size of the animal. 30 pound cat, 50 pound paws. 
mcb
Member
OP said it was wet soft terrain, look how sandy that soil is and how much the top-front of the track has collapsed. I still say it two coyote tracks nearly on top of each other. My best guess given the picture. Would not be surprised if I was right or wrong...
thanks for the link, h&hhunter. i went out and measured the track:
about four inches deep and
about five inches wide.
we have both bobcat and mountain lion here in and close to town.
murf
I take it seeing how you were able to go back out with a tape measure this is very close to your house? If so I would be very careful of yourself and pets because that's one brave animal whatever it is to be that close to a house if so.
yes, this is in my back yard about 20 yards from the house. lots of critters come through here at night.
i'm guessing the cat was checking out the goat next door. he is in a chicken pen and, apparently, safe from the feline. saw the goat out this evening!
murf
i count five toes, so i see what you mean. the track is on the side of a fairly steep hill, fwiw.
murf
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,085
If that's a single track, it sure as 'ell isn't a bobcat, and would be one 'ell of a good size cougar. Way too large for any 'yote I've ever seen too. Pad shape looks like a canid, as it is concave in the back. The way the ground is pushed up around the track shows a good amount of weight being applied even tho it doesn't look as if the animal is running. I also count five toes. Around here (and there are cougars, wolves, 'yotes, bobcats and bear) there's only one of those wild animals, that shows five toes in it's track.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
If that's a k9 track that isn't a coyote or wolf its a hell hound! 5X5 would be about as large as my fist without measuring it. Whatever it is hopefully it moves on and you don't come face to face with it one day! Id be carrying a BAR or 50cal desert eagle with extended mag for that big ole whatever it is! lol.
entropy
Member
Canid, two tracks, Sooner Medic got it, one on top of the other; Feline tracks have 3 lobes on the back; even with the soft sand and another track on top of it, I only see two. The sand looks very soft there, that can make one think an animal is bigger than it really is. Lord knows I've seen enough deer tracks that looked like they were from B&C deer in wet sand. Probably a larger coyote.
Last edited:
WrongHanded
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2017
- Messages
- 4,771
Looks like a front and a rear track on top of one another. The lack of consistent claw marks don't speak to it not being a canine, considering the crumbly nature of the dirt. Coyote seems like the likely culprit to me.
- Status
