Identifying Wild Animals Tracks

Whether you're hiking through a national forest or near your own backyard, you can find signs of wildlife if you know what to look for. Watch for animal tracks in pastures, along creeks and on game trails. Identifying wildlife tracks takes patience and ingenuity because several variable factors exist: tracks look different in snow, mud and sand; tracks vary depending on age and gender of a species; the tracks may be smudged; or the entire footprint may not be present.

Instructions

  1. Identifying Grazing Animals

    • 1

      Identify the track as a grazing animal's. Grazing animals leave tracks comprised of two elongated tear-shaped marks close together. Both marks together are heart-shaped. Think of the hoofs of cattle or deer. The marks have crisp outlines when fresh.

    • 2

      Consider the size of the marks. Elk tracks are larger and rounder than deer, about 4 1/2 inches in size. Pronghorn antelope front tracks are about 3 1/4 inches long and resemble deer. Bighorn sheep tracks also resemble deer tracks and are 3 1/2 inches long.

    • 3

      Inspect the shape of the track. Bighorn sheep tracks are straight, somewhat square and less pointed than deer. Elk tracks are larger and rounder than deer. Pronghorn antelope and deer tracks are very similar although pronghorn tracks are slightly more narrow towards the front.

    • 4

      Consider the grazing animals known to live in the area. For example, mule deer and pronghorn antelope are found throughout the western United States, even in the suburbs. Elk and bighorn sheep are usually found in mountainous areas.

    Identifying Carnivore Tracks

    • 5

      Look for claw marks. Mountain lion and bobcats rarely leave claw marks while coyote and black bear generally do.

    • 6
      Bobcat tracks rarely leave claw marks.

      Consider the track size. The front foot tracks of bobcat, mountain lion and coyote are larger than the hind foot tracks and range from 4 inches wide for a mountain lion to 1 7/8 inches wide for a bobcat. Coyote tracks are 1 3/4 inches wide to 2 3/8 inches wide. The 7-inch long hind tracks of a black bear are longer than the front tracks.

    • 7

      Inspect the shape of the track. Coyote tracks may be confused with dog tracks, but coyote tracks are more oval-shaped. Nail marks are less evident and tracks follow a straight line. Bobcat and mountain lion tracks are more rounded than those of a dog. The front border of the ball of the foot is two-lobed. The big toe of the bear is on the outer edge of the foot. Bears have fivetoes, although the little one on the inside of the foot doesn't always leave a print.