What type of animal print is this? *pic*

[Kfamr]

Amy, Nebo, Kiara and I went hiking down a canyon/wooded area yesterday. It was frosty and dusted with snow. There were quite a few trees down and one of the large trunks had these animal tracks on it. They were around the size of a large dog print, however they are not dog prints.

It was an area where there were not many people - we didn't see anyone around or near the area. It is right near a river - However may be too cold for otters or the like. It was very high off the ground - so the excludes bunnies and many small critters.

Anyone have a clue as to what they are?
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a194/frailwit/printsinsnow.jpg

[gemini9961]

Kay you might need to check Utah's animal life and see what is native to the area. Also, at higher elevations there are different animals than what is on lower elevations. I know when I was in WY, there were quite a few animals we didn't get to see because they lived so high up in elevation and were not common to see.

[CagneyDog]

coyote or a wolf?

[Kfamr]

coyote or a wolf?


Not sure of either. Amy said there's not a confirmed population of wolves here. Coyote's footprints are usually very similar to dogs.


It looked really weird shaped and looks as if it has 5 toes.

[sammy101]

raccoon?opossum?lol i have no idea. :o

[ramanth]

Now you've really got me curious. It's five toes and a pad. A photo with a coin next to them would of helped is great for size reference. Just FYI for future reference.

Did a google search. Haven't found anything yet, but these two resources:

In the Snow: Who’s Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George

Footprints in the Snow by Cynthia Benjamin

Perhaps your local library carries them?

Still looking...

[Glacier]

coyote or a wolf?

Too small to be a wolf. Wolves leave massive pawprints, much larger than even a malamute's print.

Are there badgers or wolverines in the area? They both have five toes with a centre pad like that? They can get quite large.

[ramanth]

Here is a link to the Utah Conservation Data Center.

http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/

There is a link to all of the Vertebrate animals in Utah. If you click on that link you can than choose between bird, mammal, reptile, etc.

There is also a Federal T&E list by County link. If Amy knows what county you were hiking in, that could narrow down your list of critters.

:)

I'll keep looking.

[ramanth]

Are there badgers or wolverines in the area? They both have five toes with a centre pad like that? They can get quite large.
According to the link I just posted below your post, yes, badgers and wolverines are native to Utah. I just can't seem to find an online visual guide of animal tracks. All searches point me to books.

[ramanth]

I think Glacier is on to something.

Write up on the wolverine from the link I previously posted:

The wolverine, Gulo gulo, has a holarctic distribution, occurring in the northern parts of North America, Asia, and Europe. The species was probably never common in Utah, but it previously occurred (and still may occur) in the high mountainous areas of the state. Wolverines prefer alpine tundra and mountain forest habitats that are not frequented by humans. In fact, human impacts have caused a great reduction in wolverine distribution during the past 100 years.

Females typically produce a litter of two to three young every two years or so. Wolverines are opportunistic feeders, consuming eggs, roots, carrion, and many types of animals, including deer and moose trapped in deep snow. Wolverines are often nocturnal and are active year-round. They are generally solitary, and may range over large areas searching for food.

Links to images of wolverine tracks.

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/topics/wildlife/mammal/tracks2/wolverine.GIF

http://www.explorenorth.com/library/graphics/578846.jpg

Look at the images sorta sideways.

What do you think?

And a link to various animal tracks.

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/topics/wildlife/mammal/tracks.shtml

[Glacier]

According to the link I just posted below your post, yes, badgers and wolverines are native to Utah. I just can't seem to find an online visual guide of animal tracks. All searches point me to books.

I can't find one either, but found a couple wolverine sites..

http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/Wolverine.html

http://fwp.state.mt.us/fieldguide/mediaDisplay.aspx?id=1107&elcode=AMAJF03010

They look fairly similar.

[Samantha Puppy]

Baby bear?

[catnapper]

Were there any human footprints around at all? Or just those two prints? Looks like the footprints I used to make as a kid on the foggy schoolbus windows... make a fist, and stamp the side of it in snow or fog, then press your fingers in to make the toes.

[Jessika]

Too small to be a wolf. Wolves leave massive pawprints, much larger than even a malamute's print.

Are there badgers or wolverines in the area? They both have five toes with a centre pad like that? They can get quite large.

Believe it or not, that's exactly what I was going to suggest! :)

[dogzr#1]

How big was the print?(4in across, 5in across) How deep was the claw marks (if any)? My step- dad knows alot of things about tracks but he needs more info. Sorry for so many questions:)

Here is a link that has alot of animal prints:
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/guides/signs/tracks_key.html#mammalkey

[moosmom]

Bear??

[Almita]

It's look like a fist to me because when I was in Utah I always make a fist in the snow adn then I put all my fingers to make the feet. To me that is what it looks like.

[Alysser]

I was thinking black bear! But I don't know. Do you have bears up there?

[K's dad]

nice foot print !!!!!!!!!!!