How to Identify North American Animal Tracks
- 1). Find animal tracks. This is the obvious first step, but oftentimes one of the hardest. The best time to find animal tracks is after recent rainfall or snowfall, as the tracks will readily show up in mud or snow. Look near water sources, such as rivers, streams or springs. Look along game trails, which can be distinguished as a cleared path running through the underbrush.
- 2). Make general observations about the tracks. First determine if the animal has hoofed feet, as this can narrow your options significantly. Hoofed animals include goats, sheep, deer, elk, horses or moose. If the track was not made a by a hoof, you will need to look to other characteristics to identify the animal.
- 3). Determine if a bird made the tracks. Bird feet usually have three forward-facing toes extending from a central point with a long toe extending behind. Bird tracks are notoriously difficult to identify due to the similarities across bird species. If the track was not made by a hoofed animal or bird, you may have a mammal track.
- 4). Count the toe indentations. Mammals typically have pads on their feet to protect them from injury, with one pad on each toe and a larger pad making up the "palm" or "sole" of the appendage. If the track has four toe pads, the animal that left it is probably a feline or canine of some kind, such as a coyote, mountain lion or wolf.
- 5). Look for claw marks in the dirt around the toe prints. These marks distinguish clawed animals from those without. Five-toed animal prints with claws include bear, badgers, wolverines, raccoons, otters and skunks. Beavers and hedgehogs leave five-toed tracks without claw marks.
- 6). Draw the track on your notepad with the pencil. Try to draw the track to scale, and be sure to include claw marks or any other identifying features. Measure the track with your ruler and record the width and length of each track component on your pad. If you brought a camera, take pictures of the track from different angles with the ruler beside the track for perspective.
- 7). Use your animal track guide or online resource to identify your tracks. Compare your photographs or drawings to those included in your guide or pictured on your computer monitor. With these resources, as well as your carefully recorded observations, you shouldn't have any problem identifying the owner of your mysterious tracks.
Source...