coyote tracks or dog tracks?

chadx,
It is possible to be fooled of course, but a coyote usually leaves a track that is longer than it is wide. Most domestic dogs leave tracks that are almost round. I can tell the difference MOST of the time anway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Rich, I'm with you on that one, I can tell (most) of the time. Like a bobcat track and a Mt Lion track, was it a small lion or a large bobcat? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif You can usually tell by the size and shape most times. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Danny,
There are not that many bobcats around here, but population is increasing. I know of a few cougar sightings but not many. I wish that someone like you could look at the tracks which are imbedded in my Mothers driveway! Some time during the night before concrete was completely dry, something jumped her yard fence and walked up the driveway. These tracks are 0ver 3&1/2" wide, almost perfectly round and show no claw marks. From toe of one track to heel of the next is about 50", which seems like a pretty long stride to me. I think it was a cougar. Right here in the city too! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I was out turkey hunting thismorning and noticed some K-9 tracks in dried mud. I notice that the two middle toes seemed to be closer together and more pointed than any dog tracks that I could remember seeing. there were also identicle prints in shape that were very tiny and faint, or shallow (about the size of a quarter maybe) and were following the same path as the larger ones. Would coyotes be raising pups yet in Southeast Ohio and have them out of the den already?
 
Danny,
Cougars are pretty rare around here alright, but seems as though more of them are passing through here every year. Too many people and not enough cover to make the cougar comfortable around here. I'm certain that they don't stay around here very long, because we don't get any complaints of livestock being killed by large predators. I wish that someone like you who has seen a lot of real lion tracks could look at those imbedded in my Mom's driveway though. I am convinced that these tracks were made by a cougar passing through the city during dark of night. She only lives a mile or less from the big missouri river, so there is cover not far from her house.
 
Good possibility, Rich. Last year we had a confirmed mountain lion in Lyon county (yup, Lyon Co.) in the extreme NW corner of Iowa. Also last year, I got the crap scared out of me when one screamed less than a quarter mile away as I was getting out of my stand while bow hunting in Obrien county. Made real good time getting back to the truck, lol.

We think these cats are passing though, but there are a few areas which may have enough habitat to cause them to stay a while, such as remote river bottoms. We don't get reports of livestock being taken, but then we are infested with deer here. Several years ago we had a moose wander through, and an elk is spotted (and confirmed) about every other year.

So . . . have ya taught Mom how to load and shoot a 12 gauge auto yet? Pretty cool to have those tracks locked up in concrete. Maybe the zoologist from Henry Dourly Zoo would stop by and have a look?
 
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