Track ID Anyone?

Spotted these tracks about 4km back from our camp in the "upper bush", all maples, some oaks, and other hard woods. Originally, I thought they were cat tracks, and I suppose they could very well be.

This was the clearest looking track I could find, it appears back foot is stepping inside front foot.

Anyone got any ideas?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...8&l=00f6099dba

These were right in front of where I had set my trail camera - camera took 8 pictures throughout the weekend but it appears it didn't actually catch anything on camera.

Cougar... Definatly a cougar... Or.. Maybe a puma?

my guess is kitty cat from these pics

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Originally Posted by Pioneerfreq

You need to include more detail than just one pic. We need to know if the tracks are parallel or diagonal, the length of stride, the straddle width, and the pitch of individual tracks in relation to others in the same set. Is there any indication of a tail?

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I knew I should have posted that information - or, as much as I can provide.

Setting was all spruces, pine, and cedars.

Tracks were about 8-10 inches apart, no sign of any other markings or tail marks etc.

Tracks were almost in line with each other, almost in a straight line.

Personally, I'm suspecting a kitty - but, have never seen one that far out in the bush, and no one around has cats either - feral cat perhaps? Midget cougar? (I know, not PC, but ... "µcougar" anyone ...)

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Originally Posted by jweese

Spotted these tracks about 4km back from our camp in the "upper bush", all maples, some oaks, and other hard woods. Originally, I thought they were cat tracks, and I suppose they could very well be.

This was the clearest looking track I could find, it appears back foot is stepping inside front foot.

Anyone got any ideas?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...8&l=00f6099dba

These were right in front of where I had set my trail camera - camera took 8 pictures throughout the weekend but it appears it didn't actually catch anything on camera.

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Your camera may have been taking pictures of trees blowing in the wind.

One suggestion about the camera; put it a lot closer to the camp then 4km away. Mine are about 400m and 700m respectively. You'll find its a lot more convenient then taking half a day to get to it, and you may even surprise yourself with whats "right in the backyard".

As for the tracks, at first glance they might be marten tracks

That's funny, I just recently saw some these tracks chasing squirrels on a field edge.

Google "fisher tracks"

They're too small for a fisher.

Cougar..

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Originally Posted by Houndlover

That's funny, I just recently saw some these tracks chasing squirrels on a field edge.

Google "fisher tracks"

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I thought the same thing (being Fishers), considering it is near where we dogged out a fisher during deer season, but I always thought they'd leave a tail drag.

Shooting into the air here but - after a bit of "Google-Fu", what about weasel? The prints look almost feline but DID have small claw tips on the pads, they're hard to make out in the picture - but they are there.

Two more pictures...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...8&l=10c7b8c088

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...8&l=5e992fd9dc

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Originally Posted by blasted_saber

They're too small for a fisher.

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My original thought, but it's hard to tell the exact size from the pic.

Jweese, how long/wide are these? I'd say Fisher tracks are usually around 2.5 long 2 wide (inches) Maybe abit larger.

To me what points to fisher is how far apart they are... And fishers almost never leave a clear track

If they are smaller, could be weasel.

Feral cat!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jweese

Shooting into the air here but - after a bit of "Google-Fu", what about weasel? The prints look almost feline but DID have small claw tips on the pads, they're hard to make out in the picture - but they are there.

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I would say your are getting closer, but they look too big for a weasel. Still think marten is the best bet (its in the weasel family). Its in between the weasel and fisher in size.

Its appears to be fresh snow with a fresh track, so I dont think its been distorted by melt at all.

For size comparison, this is a marten on the left and a fisher on the right. Fisher's are generally much bigger then people realize



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/DSC_0011.jpg

I saw a fisher up around that way once, it looked like a little bear as I flew past on my dune buggy.

Marten makes sense to me. Saber,would that be a young/small fisher in the pic. The ones I have seen looked bigger ,just wondering.

I say marten or fisher