Why using tracks in snow for ID is very unreliable

Often we see people on these boards posting a picture of a track on snow which measures "bigger then my 80 lbs German shepherds track" etc, which leads to "It must be a wolf!"

Well, using tracks in snow, in particular melting snow, is very unreliable. I was out with the dog this morning on our driveway and noticed this perfect example of why its unreliable. When snow melts the track impression expands, possibly substantially.

Track from the last couple days vs his actual paw (mid sized dog, weighs about 45lbs).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pse942028d.jpg

This was said a few times in another recent thread when someone asked for ID on tracks.

But if the tracks are clearly fresh,..

Blasted... good point. I would add that for coyote one of the telling signs is that unlike dogs, coyote tracks don't normally have the back paw print. They move such that the rear paws go into the same spot as the front paws. Some of the fields I am hunting are used as areas for the neighbours to walk/snowshoe with their dogs. It can be terribly difficult to try to sort tracks especially since the coyotes like to follow snowmobile paths (they don't like falling thru deep snow any better than we do)

Great post Saber.

This is a poor picture of a yote track beside my size 12. Yote is lying just off picture. Not all yote tracks are the same. A small female and a large male are different in size and I have seen yote tracks with larger toe nails plus during mating season it is common to see yote tracks side by side where they do not step into same print.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/IMG_1638.jpg

Good post blasted_saber. Very true, I have found a number of canine tracks locally which measure close to 5 in long; melted dog, not wolf. Tracks in mud or sand are far more reliable.

The track itself is often only one indicator to determine just what the animal actually is. You should take into consideration what the critter is doing, where he's going , where he's come from.

That's a great example. I always knew they grew but I didn't know it's was that much growth and still keep that much detail.

Come on blasted. Thats a nice attempt at a cover up but your not fooling me. Show us the cougar that made those tracks. Don't be hogging all the cougar tracks to yourself.

Let's ask a trained expert...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps13843172.jpg