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Animal Track Identification - Pictures and ID Chart

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Val_Iva/Shutterstock

Identifying Animal Footprints and Paw Prints

Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

You don’t have to be deep in the forest to be an animal tracker. Animal footprints are often as close as your backyard or garden. Take a look at these animal track pictures and charts—showing footprints in both snow and mud. Now, you can identify which wild animal walked through your yard last night!

How to Track Animals and Identify Animal Tracks

Tracking is something that you learn best by doing. Get out there and look! Here are a few tips:

  • Animal tracks are easiest to find in mud, soft garden soil, sand, and snow.
  • Study the ground closely. Get down on your hands and knees. Note the size of the track and whether it shows claw marks. You may wish to make a sketch.
  • Track early in the morning or late in the day when shadows make prints easier to see.
  • Watch for animal droppings called scat. The scat will also help you track the animal. If the scat is dry all the way through, the tracks may have been left a while ago. On the other hand, if it’s still moist, it indicates recent activity. Not only can it provide valuable information about the timing of the animal’s presence, but it can also give clues about their diet. Scat can tell you if you’re tracking a vegetarian or a meat eater.
  • In case you lose the trail, don’t panic. Simply widen your search by scanning the area in a circular motion around the last track you found. This method increases your chances of picking up the trail again. Remember, patience is key when tracking animals.
  • The most important tip of all: don’t get lost! While tracking animals can be an exciting adventure, it’s crucial to prioritize your safety. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid getting lost. Carry a map, compass, or GPS device to ensure you can find your way back. Additionally, inform someone about your tracking plans and estimated return time.

By following these tips and staying cautious, you can enhance your tracking skills and gain a deeper understanding of the wildlife around you. So, grab your gear, head out into nature, and embark on a thrilling animal tracking expedition.

Read Next

Animal Track Pictures in the Winter Snow

For those living in snowy regions, winter can be a great time to observe and identify animal tracks. The white canvas of snow makes it easier to spot tracks and decipher their characteristics. Take a moment to examine these common animal tracks and familiarize yourself with their distinct patterns.

animal tracks in the snow chart

Animal Track Pictures in the Mud

Here are the same animal tracks as they might look in a muddy garden or backyard!

animal tracks in the mud

We love all these animals, but if they are destroying your garden, here are simple ways to deter common critters:
Deer, mice, moles, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, voles, and woodchucks or groundhogs. 

Have you seen any animal tracks in your backyard lately? Tell us about it below!

Pets & Farm Animals
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Wendy Gratrix</span> Thu, 03/13/2014 - 19:23
Was walking my 2 dogs in a large farmer's field and they went crazy trying to track these prints. Was hoping you could help identify them! My dog Jersey is an 88 pound bulldog/boxer and the prints are bigger than hers. Thanks. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152050587303299.1073741852.521013298&type=1&l=186984cf2f
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 03/14/2014 - 12:03

It's hard to know without a few more clues, such as length and width of the tracks (and/or, the size of your dog's prints), and what state/province you found them. They do look like a raccoon's, which has back paws that can be 2 to 4 inches long; front paws are about 1.5 to 3 inches long; both front and back paws show five toes in a clear print. Claws may not be seen. Typical walking gait is to have a hind and front paw near each other; these sets of prints are usually about 10 to 18 inches apart. If the animal is galloping or loping, it will show as a different pattern.

Good luck with the ID!

 <span>Wendy Gratrix</span> Sat, 03/15/2014 - 04:40
Could it be Badger? I live in Ontario Canada in the Simcoe County region. Found a weasel head fully intact(but no body) very close to the prints. My dogs paws are 3 inches long by 2 inches wide and these tracks were bigger than that. Maybe 5 inches long by 3 inches wide. Went back to measure but unfortunately they were erased by the weather.
<span>Ronald L Bailey</span> Mon, 03/10/2014 - 20:56
I live in jefferson co. pa.I'm a hunter and have seen all kinds of animal tracks, I have never seen these before.4 tracks 2.5 inch,2 in front,one in the middle,one in the back. can't pick out a print,It is 30ft.to to the woods,first three jumps are 6ft apart,the next 2 are 8ft apart In6ins of snow what can jump like that?It was not a deer. thanks-Ron
<span>Ed Amen</span> Thu, 01/01/2015 - 12:07
IN REPLY TO RONALD BAILEY, I FOUND THE SAME TRACKS, GOOGLE THE COTTON TAIL RABBIT.THEY LOOK LIKE THE SAME KIND OF TRACKS
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 03/11/2014 - 17:55

There are several animals that can jump that far. Are you saying that the track you saw is not a hoofed mammal (such as deer, elk, moose, etc.)? In that case, could it be of the cat or canine family? It is too bad you could not detect whether the print showed toes (and how many on front and back paws), or claws or no. Canines may show claws, whereas cats usually have their claws sheathed. Two "toes" are deer family; 4 toes, rabbits; 5 toes, weasel, beaver, river otter, etc.; 4 toes front and 5 behind, many rodents, such as squirrels, woodchucks . . . .

A coyote is said to be able to jump more than 13 or so feet. A red fox or bobcat, about 12 feet, such as in pursuit of rodents under the snow.

2.5 to 3.5 inches are the size of coyote paws. Bobcats are usually about 1.5 inches. Red fox can vary between about 1.75 and 2.5.

The track patterns for certain animals can change between galloping and walking. It could be that this animal was galloping, perhaps in pursuit of prey, or to escape a predator.

Wish we could be of more help! Good luck with the ID!

 <span>Debbie Mcleland</span> Mon, 03/03/2014 - 16:27
I have had foot prints in my yard every time it snows. There are 2 long toes infront, 1 in the back. The print is atleast 8 inches in total. The prints are like one-legged and are 4 to 7 feet apart. It has some weight because they are atleast an inch deep.
<span>Kim</span> Mon, 01/09/2017 - 22:58
Hi Debbie, I see you asked this three years ago so I know I may not get an answer. But did you find out what it was? It just snowed where I live and I have the SAME exact prints in my back yard. I live in the middle of town so this is very strange to me. You are the only other person I found that has seen the same thing.
<span>Bill Kendrick</span> Thu, 03/27/2014 - 17:32
Map Wild Turkey Range Audio Fast Facts Type: Bird Diet: Omnivore Average life span in the wild: 3 to 4 years Size: Body, 3.6 to 3.8 ft (1.1 to 1.2 m); wingspan, 4.1 to 4.8 ft (1.3 to 1.4 m) Weight: 5.5 to 18.8 lbs (2.5 to 10.8 kg) Group name: Flock Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: The turkey was Benjamin Franklin's choice for the United States's national bird. The noble fowl was a favored food of Native Americans. When Europeans arrived, they made it one of only two domestic birds native to the Americas—the Muscovy duck shares the distinction. Yet by the early 20th century, wild turkeys no longer roamed over much of their traditional range. They had been wiped out by hunting and the disappearance of their favored woodland habitat. Wild turkeys typically forage on forest floors, but can also be found in grasslands and swamps. They feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and salamanders. Wild turkey reintroduction programs began in the 1940s, and the birds were relocated to areas where populations had been decimated but woodlands were recovering. Such efforts worked so well that wild turkeys now live in areas where they may not have occurred when Europeans first reached the Americas. Today, flocks are also found in Hawaii, Europe, and New Zealand. Only male turkeys display the ruffled feathers, fanlike tail, bare head, and bright beard commonly associated with these birds. They also gobble with a distinctive sound that can be heard a mile (a kilometer and a half) away. Females lay 4 to 17 eggs, and feed their chicks after they hatch—but only for a few days. Young turkeys quickly learn to fend for themselves as part of mother/child flocks that can include dozens of animals. Males take no role in the care of young turkeys. Domestic turkeys have white-tipped tails because they are the descendants of a Mexican subspecies that was taken to Europe for domestication in the early 16th century. The feature distinguishes them from most modern wild turkeys, though captive diet, lifestyle, and breeding have caused other physical discrepancies and can jump 7ft
<span>Shanece Holly</span> Tue, 03/04/2014 - 23:21
I have the same thing in my backyard!! My husband and I are trying to figure it out.