Animal tracks

[riverfever]

One of the things I love most about living here is the opportunity to see so much wildlife. Yesterday this little guy actually ran up to me as I was walking down the front steps. He got 6 feet from me and then laid down in the grass. I was able to go in and grab the camera. He laid there for 10 minutes and then left when I got in my Jeep.

http://i2.tinypic.com/r1ea7q.jpg

I wish I was more educated with regard to track identification. We got a light dusting of powder last night. This morning right as I opened the door I could see the usual smaller tracks from rabbit and mostly squirell but then I noticed some larger ones. Here's one shot that shows the track being about 3.5-4" wide: (I'm also pretty sure you'll be able to make out what appear to be claw marks on both of these)

http://i2.tinypic.com/r1edkj.jpg

This pic shows the print being almost 5" from heel to toe:

http://i2.tinypic.com/r1egex.jpg

This is a shot of the tracks in some frozen mud. I think it shows, pretty clearly the right and left prints. If I'm correct, then the distance between the rights is 4'.

http://i2.tinypic.com/r1ei4h.jpg

This is the same area, I just backed off a bit. I know it's hard to make out but it seems like a pretty big animal with a good stride length:

http://i2.tinypic.com/r1ejra.jpg

I'm not a hunter but I've seen plenty of fox and coyotes and I think these are something else. I'm wondering if they are Mountain Lion? Certainly they could be a big dog but none of the dogs in this part of town are big like a Sheperd. Can anyone help?

[funvtec]

BIGFOOT

[riverfever]

BIGFOOT

I really think bigMOUTH is more fitting for you. :D

[funvtec]

:gee:

[ECKSJAY]

Too big to be coyote, though the same shape...and going by measurements and your geographic location I'd be more inclined to say it's a wolf, dude. :)

[drifto77]

If you can see claws in the tracks... prob NOT a cat.
My guess is a big dog.
Check this out for ID'ing tracks...................
http://www.bear-tracker.com/


Too big to be coyote, though the same shape...and going by measurements and your geographic location I'd be more inclined to say it's a wolf, dude. :)
Are ther Wolf's that far south?
I have seen some pretty big coyote's and their tracks here in Texas.

[ECKSJAY]

Are ther Wolf's that far south?
I have seen some pretty big coyote's and their tracks here in Texas.

Down to at least Mexico for the Grays, brother. :)

[98XJSport]

Definately dog or dog like, only one cat shows claws on flat ground, and its definately not native to you. Plus they stride different, dogs tend to trot/lope, while cats stride. Watch a house cat to see what I mean. Its an attitude thing lol.

You might want to a bit more cautious around a wild animal that walks up to you like that. Does not sound anywhere near normal or healthy. Still an awesome pic, though.

[Yucca-Man]

Are ther Wolf's that far south?There is a pack that was reintroduced in the Yellowstone area a few years ago; one of them (with a radio tag) was found dead alongside I-70 in Colorado two years ago so they definitely get around. Another one, probably from that same pack, was sighted near Steamboat earlier this year. As mentioned there are also Mexican packs and some in the high Arizona mountains but they aren't very common in the US no matter what.

Edit: Having a wild one come up that close and stick around is definitely odd - could be sick. Keep your critters safely inside and make sure they've got their shots.

[drifto77]

Down to at least Mexico for the Grays, brother. :)

http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/mar/papr/du_mexwolf.html

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/sep/stories/wolf.htm

Guess I need to get out of the cave a little more. http://www.bitbenderforums.com/vb22/images/smilies/_silly.gif

[Ben H]

narrow with a defined heal 4-5 inches long. looks like a wolf is trying to eat your pet fox. or a big german shepard. Shepards have narrow tracks and at a crouch can leave a heal that has a point.

Or a human with about a size 10 in some narrowed heal boots, unless your wolf is stepping in its own tracks.

[jeepinandy]

I agree on the wolf or other big dog on the tracks..

And for the fox coming in and just laying down that close and sticking around for you to go get the camera is NOT normal. Definately keep an eye on your animals and watch for him/her to make a return visit. Also might want to give the local game officials a heads up on the strange acting fox. Aspecialy if you live close to others that may have outside pets and/or small children. A woman not far from here was attacked by a rabid bobcat that had wondered into her basement not to long ago..


just be careful out there don't want you to end up like the Grizzly man...

:cheers:

[Lincoln]

My guess is the fox has been given handouts or rabid(?). The only time I've seen foxes get that close was to bite.

[riverfever]

There are a lot of foxes around here. We have had as many as four in the front yard playing at one time. My dog chased one tonight and wound up in the neighbors yard. The fox bowed down in behavior that, for dogs, means "let's play". I def. don't want my dog playing with wild animals so I whistled and she heeled. (I should mention that I had the garage door open and was working in the garage when my g/f came out to put a load of laundry in and the dog was just following her. I only say this b/c I think it's irresponsible to let the dog just run free in the yard.) She saw that fox and it was off to the races.

A science teacher at school told the students one day when I was doing an observation that the government reports there are no wild wolves in the state of CO. I wondered about that b/c I knew of the ones in NM and of the one that someone mentioned being found along the I70 corridor. Another gal at work told me today that they were mountain lion tracks when I described them. Man...would I effin love to see a wolf. A mountain lion would rock but a wolf....forget it.

I wanted to add that the back legs drug a few inches in the powder before setting a nice track. Almost like the way I've seen Sheperd's walk...kinda dragging their toes ya know?

[ECKSJAY]

[FONT=Verdana]I wanted to add that the back legs drug a few inches in the powder before setting a nice track. Almost like the way I've seen Sheperd's walk...kinda dragging their toes ya know?

Woof.

[8Mud]

Just something to keep in mind about your Foxes. If they are kits, they probably have near a handfull of roundworms in there stomach. Probably a half dozen other parasites. If they crap in your garden your dog is likely to be sniffing there poop, and sucking parasite eggs up his nose.
A common sign of round worm infestation is lethargy and a bloated stomach. Round worms encyst, then come out to reproduce when a female has pups, they pass on the worms in there milk.
Foxes are neat to watch at a distance, but I sure wouldn't encourage or even tolerate them anywhere near my living area. They are right on up there with rats as a disease vector. Much of what they eat is carrion (dead stuff). The rest is mostly rodents, which are also vectors. They have one parasite that is pretty much endemic. A kind of microscopic tape worm, thats eggs can be inhailed. People get it too, there is no cure. The worms eventually ruin your liver or cut off the blood flow to your brain.
I'd run them off a good long distance from where any household pets or children hang out.
I shoot at least a couple of Foxes a year in the local cemetary, trying to dig up corpses. No kidding.

[klonestar]

The fox looked fine and I'd definately say someone around you is feeding them! No apperance of sickness and if it was rabid youd know it in a flash! I know a few in my area that feed the fox and they will eat right outta their hand. Not a good idea at all for so many reasons.


We have black bear,moose, deer, mtn. lion, fisher cat, coyotes, red fox, racoons, squirrels, chipmunks, tons of owls, etc.... an owl once took my stepdaughters cat for supper!

Id really say that did look like a dog track. 'Most' wolfs dont get that big.

Shooed bears outta my trash more than once!

Funny I once saw a mtn. lion (positive id as it was only about 15 feet from me) here and the local warden swore I was absolutely mistaken as he claimed they have not been around here for 200 years!

The local fisher cats and coyotes are always on the lookout for an easy dinner of outdoor contained pets. ie: open runs, fenced back yards ,etc..

Had an albino deer out back a couple years ago.

I must say one of the most ferocious and blood curddling sounds I have ever heard was once when a fisher cat and a racoon were going at it! The racoon lost by a landslide. The fisher cat is in the badger family but a bit more fierce.

Though moose do not hang out in herds I have more than once come upon 20-30 of them grazing together.

Once had a mother ask me for some bread so her toddlers could feed the baby bears (which I knew mama bear was only about 50 feet away). I escorted her and the kids to her car and told her I was calling the PD if she didnt leave immediately. Understandingly upset she asked why. I told her when mama bear ate hers kids they would kill mama bear and I liked her! :sunshine:

I love the northern New Hampshire mountains where I live! (and no, I dont hunt)

[8Mud]

The fox looked fine and I'd definately say someone around you is feeding them! No apperance of sickness and if it was rabid youd know it in a flash! I know a few in my area that feed the fox and they will eat right outta their hand. Not a good idea at all for so many reasons.

I love the northern New Hampshire mountains where I live! (and no, I dont hunt)

I'm gonna have to disagree with you a bit. Just because it looked fine is no reason to assume it is fine. Foxes and other animals carry diseases that they are largely immune to. Humans and house pets may not have the same natural resistance. I've looked at hundreds, if not thousands of scat samples from Foxes and have yet to find an absolutely clean sample. Most of it is just a matter of the degree of infestation. Ask your Vet for a no chit assesment of the parasites a Fox is likely to have. Or your house animals carry, that are always there but seldom cause problems for humans. Ask your Doctor the same question about the likely parasites you are carrying around.
On the flip side, your Dog is likely a carrier of Distemper and the Foxes aren't immunized. Allowing the Foxes into his territory, just may be signing there death warrant. African Lions are endangered in many areas, not from hunting or man driven intervention, but from Canine Distemper. I've only found one Fox that was tested and confirmed with Rabbis. I've found dozens with Distemper. A fox with Distemper displays all the syptoms (in the end phase) as Rabbis.
People always go back to the Rabbis thing for predators and the Lymes disease thing for Deer, probably because it's so alarming. Deer, depending on the area or region, carry up to forty kinds of disease that can be harmfull and dibilitating to humans.
Put your brain in gear for a moment. The Garden of Eden was probably a very nice place, living at peace with all the animals. But the last I heard 80% of all the bio mass (by wieght) in the world is bacterial, the Garden of Eden was probably the same.
Maybe I'm just Phobic (or should have never looked through a microscope), but after messing with wildlife, I wash my hands (I carry soap and water with me, also a mask and rubber gloves for Fox). My clothes go straight into the machine (which has a 200 F setting with a built in heater element). And I keep a spray bottle with a mild chlorine solution in it for my boot soles. I have a plastic tubb in the back of my XJ and keep plastic sacks big enough for a Deer. My hunting dog goes in for regular check ups and stool samples. The only Wildlife in my garden is birds and occasioally a Hedge Hog or two. After a visit from the Hedge Hogs, the dogs have to be checked for ticks and usually pick up a load of fleas. I've actually caged up the Hedge Hogs and took them to the vet for worm, flea and ticks shots (my dogs have a nasty habit of sleeping in my bed when I'm away).
I once watched a woman at a Desert spring, give a female Coyote (she was obviously suckling pups) a Pork Chop from her hand. The Coyote took the Chop and most of two fingers. She demanded somebody shoot the Coyote so it could be tested for Rabbis.
I get regular rabbies vacinations (boosters). I work in a risk group, the health insurance company pays for it.

[Yucca-Man]

Once had a mother ask me for some bread so her toddlers could feed the baby bears (which I knew mama bear was only about 50 feet away). I escorted her and the kids to her car and told her I was calling the PD if she didnt leave immediately. Understandingly upset she asked why. I told her when mama bear ate hers kids they would kill mama bear and I liked her! :sunshine: A couple years ago we headed to Estes Park to watch the elk from the relative safety of the Jeep. While in town we watched a family get out of their car to walk toward a couple of the elk...that was bad enough, but it got worse when we realized Dad (or El Patron, in this case) was on CRUTCHES. He barely had enough mobility to get out of his own way, much less try to evade an elk...

Then again the Colorado paramedics love tourists and the stupid things they do. It's job security.

[98XJSport]

See that a lot up here with moose. Why someone would walk up to an animal that could probably flip your car over if it wanted to is beyond me.

[DaJudge]

A couple years ago we headed to Estes Park to watch the elk from the relative safety of the Jeep. While in town we watched a family get out of their car to walk toward a couple of the elk...that was bad enough, but it got worse when we realized Dad (or El Patron, in this case) was on CRUTCHES. He barely had enough mobility to get out of his own way, much less try to evade an elk...

Then again the Colorado paramedics love tourists and the stupid things they do. It's job security.


Kinda of like these people? There is a reason why the Park Service spends the money to try and educate the public...they just don't seem to get it! :shiver:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/safetyvideos.htm

Glen

[Yucca-Man]

Sweet link, judge! I don't (and won't) have RealPlayer, but I've seen some of those before...

[SCW]

The tracks look like a domestic dog to me. A few hints about tracks-

Cats are round (almost perfectly round) with no claws unless they are jumping, and even then you rarely see them.

Coyotes & foxes are very tight and diamond shaped. Small also, you not usually mistake them for a domestic dog because of the extreme difference in print size compared to body size. Foxes are even smaller, but equally as tight.

Dogs are large, hairy (usually) and failry open unless you are dealing with running dogs and some hounds. Most pet dogs will be a VERY open, loose print. Also, you can see an "X" as a ridge between the toes and pad with a dog, where you won't see a definate "X" with foxes and coyotes.

Here is a pic of a lion track I took last winter-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/utahmom/Shane/P1000702.jpg

I couldn't find a pic of a coyote track, so here's a "pet" coyote I used to have, lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/utahmom/Shane/coyotepup2.jpg

[klonestar]

A little off topic but....

A momma racoon and babies just moved into my attic! Anything I can put up there to run them off? Like cat, dog! (just kidding) but how about mothballs or?

Thanks!

[Ben H]

Racoons can be tough. One got stuck in back of the winery, it wrecked the place. On another occassion, I was able to hand feed some tame coons, on Fort Polk, they were very entertaining. I would suggest a trap to get them out safely. Both yours and the racoons safety.

[Lincoln]

Ditto the trap. Those things can be nasty.

[klonestar]

Ditto the trap. Those things can be nasty.
Ya I know! Just dont have a trap big enough for mom!

[Lincoln]

Ya I know! Just dont have a trap big enough for mom!

Our local Fish and Game police loan out live traps for this purpose. Even so they aren't much to buy.
http://home.rmci.net/lincoln/dump/new_hat.jpg

This one was on a killing rampage. It got let go in the rich part of town. :D

[Lincoln]

BTW.

http://www.livetrap.com/cgi/search.cgi?user_id=22743&database=dbase1.exm&template=template1.shtml&0_option=1&0=18

[8Mud]

Get them out of there in a hurry, they can really tear some stuff up. It's amazing home much damage they can do in a short period of time.
I keep a trap big enough for Fox, Racoon and even catch rats with it ($35).
Somebody mentioned on the board awhile back about Pepper rounds for a paint ball gun. Got me some:) . Not nearly as efficient as a trap, but a whole lot more fun. My son is always complaining, about the CO2 tank for his paint ball gun being empty all the time. My Jack Russel pouts because she doesn't get to chase Racoons around attics anymore.

[WVXJ]

Wow, great pic! There is a movie out now by Werner Herzog (german filmmaker) called "Grizzly Man". It's a documentary about this eccentric that lives among grizzlies in Alaska for more than a few summers. Anyway, he has this fox that befriends him, strangest thing i've ever seen (other than what the dude does with grizzly bears)! It is definitely worth checking out, especially for people that enjoy wildlife, not to mention the ending.

[klonestar]

Thanks for the links all! I know they make a mess quickly had them two years ago and thought I got rid of them. I actually think its one of the original offsprings as they are somewhat territorial. They are major thieves as well!

Sending in for a trap now! (Got lotsa places I can let em go! hehehehe):angel:

And as for Grizzly Man, ah, well, guess thats a matter of opinion. I thought it should be renamed grizzly geek but thats just me and I do love nature in all its glory. Raised some very good issues (in the end and extras) about just leaving wildlife alone! There really was some great footage though!

Thanks again,
Ken (whos gonna get a trap and have a back to nature trip real soon!)

[Cox89XJ]

The government saying there are no wolves in your area can be taken with a grain of salt. I live in southern middle Tennessee. There are mountain lions also called panthers here. Some are tan and some are black, but to get the government to admit it is a different thing.

[WVXJ]

I and some friends were camping in Lewisburg,WV. We were half way down the trail to the campsite when this big hairy cat jumped down the cliff and directly in our path not 30 ft. ahead of us. This cat was as big as a dog easily, bigger than some dogs. It growled unbelievably loud and low and then took off! Almost had to change my union suit! I know WV is nowhere close to you guys, but people said the big cats no longer lived here as well. I also knew a coal miner that found a wounded young bobcat on the road to work one day. He built it a cage that was 8' high out of fencing. He would throw lunch meat on Top of that cage and that little cat would jump up and pull it through the top! Rowdy Kitties!

[ECKSJAY]

I and some friends were camping in Lewisburg,WV. We were half way down the trail to the campsite when this big hairy cat jumped down the cliff and directly in our path not 30 ft. ahead of us. This cat was as big as a dog easily, bigger than some dogs. It growled unbelievably loud and low and then took off! Almost had to change my union suit! I know WV is nowhere close to you guys, but people said the big cats no longer lived here as well. I also knew a coal miner that found a wounded young bobcat on the road to work one day. He built it a cage that was 8' high out of fencing. He would throw lunch meat on Top of that cage and that little cat would jump up and pull it through the top! Rowdy Kitties!

Dude, your lingo is cracking me up!

[Lincoln]

Dude, your lingo is cracking me up!

I think it's more funny that he is calling a bobcat big.

[riverfever]

Dude, your lingo is cracking me up!

I liked the term...union suit.

[jeepinandy]

Bobcats are "fairly" big but in his post he said BIG CATS

While riding up in the mountains near WV and VA line I caught a glimpse of what I thaught was a mountain lion.. I saw big and brown and my wife saw long tail, so the long tail ruled out bobcat.. One thing for sure it was FAST..

[Cox89XJ]

I know of seven different incidents where people I know have seen mountain lions. From a 83 year old woman, a bank manager, to even my son-in-law. A few years ago one was killed in a neighboring county and the game wardens said someone had released it as a pet. Yea right. There’s not many and they are very sly.

[Captain Ron]

I know of seven different incidents where people I know have seen mountain lions. From a 83 year old woman, a bank manager, to even my son-in-law. A few years ago one was killed in a neighboring county and the game wardens said someone had released it as a pet. Yea right. There’s not many and they are very sly.

You know what they call bicyclists in Orange County CA., Right?

Yep, Cat Food. :D

There's even an unofficial Cat Food season. :D

--ron

[nosigma]

Two weeks ago while out a smugglers cave (just off the I-8 @ In-Ko-Pa) east of san diego my daughter spotted some mountain lion tracks along the hiking trail from the road down towards smugglers cave. Tracks broke of and went south towards Elliot mine about 100yds from smugglers cave.

I was there just two days earlier and these tracks were not there.
No claws. Pad and toes are about 5" across. Sonran desert, mid april, lots of illegals hang out and cross in the area so there is plenty of easy food.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/nosigma/MountainLionontrailtosmugglers.jpg

[klonestar]

You know what they call bicyclists in Orange County CA., Right?

Skidmark!

[RichP]

See that a lot up here with moose. Why someone would walk up to an animal that could probably flip your car over if it wanted to is beyond me.

We were sitting in the kitchen a few years ago one spring, newly emerged bear walked thru the yard and stopped, wife headed for the the door to get a better look at it, I grabbed the 12ga w/slugs and stood behind her, stopped her from going down the deck stairs. She turned around, saw the 12ga and the light went on. She was back in the kitchen like a rocket.
Bear walked out to the end of the driveway and sat down again, half the houses in our development are vacation homes, mostly new yorkers, car full drove by, stopped and backed up, 5 kids hopped out to get a closer look and started to run up to it, now this was a 400lb + blackbear, luckily the bear took off and so did the kids, chasing it. I remember the mother shouting 'now don't hurt it'..sheesh...

[RichP]

I know of seven different incidents where people I know have seen mountain lions. From a 83 year old woman, a bank manager, to even my son-in-law. A few years ago one was killed in a neighboring county and the game wardens said someone had released it as a pet. Yea right. There’s not many and they are very sly.

As for mountain lions, theres none in PA according to F&G, they blew me off the first two times I called, said it was impossible, there are none in pa, I said OK, next time I'll shoot it, they had a warden and trap trailer there in 2 hours, the look on the wardens face when he saw the tracks was priceless, then they coordinated with the animal control officer and discovered about 20 dogs were 'missing' from the neighborhood and various cats. Me, I carried my super blackhawk for the next two weeks when I worked outside, western gunfighter type holsters are not condusive to yard work, had a hell of a time keeping my pants up. They never did capture it and there were at least 3 of those big traps out in the area. That was in 97...

Then there was the elephant incident in 75 when I lived out near state college..