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Author
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Topic: Track Identification
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 01, 2011 01:57 PM
Can anyone identify these tracks? They were found near my stand on 1/1/2011.
[ January 02, 2011, 08:37 AM: Message edited by: 4949shooter ]
Posts: 2274 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2009
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R.Shaw
Peanut Butter Man, da da da da DAH!
Member # 73
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posted January 01, 2011 02:11 PM
cat
Posts: 567 | From: Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2003
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 01, 2011 02:31 PM
Thanks R. Shaw. The upper track or both?
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tlbradford
Rimfires are MAGIC on COYOTES! If you do your part
Member # 1232
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posted January 01, 2011 02:42 PM
Both. Even though the toes are splayed out on the bottom track making it appear canine, you still have the three distinct bumps on the heel of the track.
[ January 01, 2011, 02:43 PM: Message edited by: tlbradford ]
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"Dan Carey ain't that special" - LB
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TA17Rem
Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Southern Minneesota Know it all
Member # 794
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posted January 01, 2011 03:02 PM
Not cat but canine. Track to the left you can draw a X from between the toes and it does'nt cross over the pad. Plus the toes are faceing forward,on a cat one of the toes will face outward... The heel pad is another give away..
The track to the right or top not sure of could be a cat since toes are smaller and closer together with a more rounded look..
[ January 01, 2011, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
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What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird!
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the bearhunter
HM PROSTAFF & MIDWEST REGIONAL GURU VOTED MOST HANDSOME MINNESOTAN
Member # 3552
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posted January 01, 2011 03:07 PM
cat!!!!!!!!
Posts: 1049 | From: minnifornia | Registered: Jan 2010
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted January 01, 2011 03:14 PM
Tracks in snow are not my strong suite, but I wouldn't rule out a coyote walking on a cat's trail. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
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And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8231 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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R.Shaw
Peanut Butter Man, da da da da DAH!
Member # 73
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posted January 01, 2011 04:23 PM
Thank goodness there are people here like myself, tlbradford, and bearhunter who have actually seen cat tracks in the snow. We don't have to rely on pictures from a book and an etch-a-sketch.
Posts: 567 | From: Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2003
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CrossJ
SECOND PLACE: PAUL RYAN Look-a-like contest
Member # 884
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posted January 01, 2011 04:23 PM
Both cats. Agree with TL's comments.
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TA17Rem
Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Southern Minneesota Know it all
Member # 794
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posted January 01, 2011 04:30 PM
I've seen cat tracks in the snow and on dirt two tracks, just did'nt have pic's of them..
Matter of fact I showed you some cat tracks by a bridge last time we hunted.. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird!
Posts: 5613 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted January 01, 2011 05:19 PM
Actually, Tim, I've seen a number of lion tracks in Colorado while hunting there, and God only knows how many bobcat tracks here in Kansas where they're as thick as coyotes in some areas. The bottom track is, contrary to your assessment, feline as indicated by the obvious tri-lobed metatarsal pad. The upper track isn't as distinct, but it appears to be a cat as well. Since we don't have anything to reference size by, it's a crapshoot as to what kind of cat, but I'll go one further than most and say that these tracks are from the same animal with the lower print being a front foot and the upper track being the same cat's hindfoot.
BTW, if you look at that lower track, and consistent with your diagram, the "pinky toe", the lateral toe, is set back as it should be for a cat, just like your pinky is. Not the same arrangement on the hindfoot. Plus, and for bonus points, no claw marks.
My best guess, FWIW.
[ January 01, 2011, 05:19 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 01, 2011 06:12 PM
Yeah I realized on the way home I should have dropped a shotgun shell in the pic for size reference.
Thanks for the responses!
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted January 01, 2011 06:50 PM
Cat. How big of tracks are we talking here 49.
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Randy Roede
"It's Roede, like in Yotie
Member # 1273
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posted January 01, 2011 07:22 PM
MEEEEOOOWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posts: 669 | From: Pierre SD | Registered: Mar 2007
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Doug
Knows what it's all about
Member # 31
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posted January 01, 2011 07:38 PM
Fresh lion track is shown below for reference.
Colorado division of wildlife has some good information on their website on lion tracks and male/female identification.
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/HunterEducation/MtnLionEduc/
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tlbradford
Rimfires are MAGIC on COYOTES! If you do your part
Member # 1232
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posted January 01, 2011 08:17 PM
Lobes. Thanks Cdog. I couldn't remember the proper term.
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"Dan Carey ain't that special" - LB
Posts: 423 | From: Spokane Valley, WA | Registered: Mar 2007
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 02, 2011 02:44 AM
Lonny the tracks aren't as big as the track pictured in Doug's post, assuming that's a 30-30 round.
I would say the larger track was more or less the size of a female, or smaller coyote track.
Tales of "lore" say there have been mountan lion sightings in PA and NJ, though I don't believe either Fish and Game Commission has acknowledged lion presence.
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 02, 2011 02:58 AM
Doug that was a good link. Mountain lions are amazing animals. I just watched a segment on the animal planet channel where a female mountain biker had half her face ripped off by a lion. The plastic surgeons did a pretty good job on her though.
What color would a cat's eyes show up in a red light? Red like a K-9 or orange like a bear?
Posts: 2274 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2009
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted January 02, 2011 04:33 AM
tl,
I'll actually correct myself and say that a front foot would be metacarpal while a hind foot would be metatarsal. No biggy.
Don't know about with a red lens as I used to check traps with headlights early and 'cats eyes reflected back changing colors depending upon what angle he was looking at me from (moving its head around) - red, white or green. Seemed to be the only animal that would do that (change). Thought that was "different". Anyone else ever notice that?
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 02, 2011 08:31 AM
If the question has a condition, such as using a red lens, then there is absolutely no reliable diagnostic information for identification. Every animal you light up will show various shades of (surprise) RED!. Some animals shine brighter, some appear to have a wider space between the eyes, but they will all reflect back a red color, and yes, the shade could vary, but that does not mean that pink eyes mean one thing and orange eyes mean another.
I have hunted at night for a long time. Many times, you have one person on the light and the other person on the gun. When using a white spotlight, there will be disagreements on the color of the eyes. Cats can appear green, and orange and white, maybe blue. Coyotes are usually white or blue. Unless you can identify them visually, the eye color has no validity for identification. Rabbits usually show up red, for some reason?
With a red light, it is even worse. It all seems to depend on the exact angle of reflection between three points, the light source, the object, and the eyes of the person that is viewing the other two points. Strictly undependable for identification.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 02, 2011 08:58 AM
Understood Leonard, Thanks.
Posts: 2274 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2009
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 02, 2011 09:33 AM
Okay, good.
Colors I forgot to mention is yellow and brown. Very common, viewed under a white light. It's actually a bit funny how often two people can disagree on the color of the animal's eyes. It's never an argument, because they realized long ago, that it's all different, perhaps even depending on characteristics in the human's eye? My eyes are blue, partners eyes could be brown. But note: not a shread of evidence to support such a statement.
Given only as an example of how unreliable the eye color reflected by an artificial light source can be. It's just curious, and something brought up, from time to time resulting in agreement or disagreement but never disputed because it's a personal observation. Clear as mud?
Good hunting. LB
PS never seen a bear, at night, for positive, can't say. Can guess?
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Okanagan
Budding Spin Doctor
Member # 870
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posted January 02, 2011 10:05 AM
Cat. Both tracks. No question, as well said by others.
Below is a pic of a cougar hind foot.
--Three rear lobes.
--One of the front toes extends out farther, similar to the length of the first two fingers on a human hand, and reveals which hand (or cat foot) we are looking at.
--On canines, the two front toes are usually almost even in length, and in this kind of snow, should show claws prominently.
This cougar hind foot matches the lower of the two tracks orginally shown. Somewhere I also have a pic of the front foot of a lion but this case is already made. Don't know what size of cat, but cat.
[ January 02, 2011, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: Okanagan ]
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4949shooter
SECOND PLACE HIGGINS (MAGNUM P.I.) LOOK A LIKE CONTEST
Member # 3530
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posted January 02, 2011 10:11 AM
And the lion's eye shows green in the picture..
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