Coyote vs Fox track

[Dan25]

I was wondering if anyone has a good way of telling the difference between coyote and fox tracks. I check tracks on a daily basis and sometimes don't know what I am loooking at. Is the best way to measure the stride? Any pictures or info would be appreciated.

 

[kirby]

Adult Red Fox print is right @ 2" long.
Adult coyote print is 2.5-3" long.
Both will walk in pretty much a straight line.

For field use measuring (w/o carrying a tape measure). I use the digit segments of my index finger. They are each right @ 1" long.

 

[SnowmanMo]

And check the nail marks that they leave behind. Coyote nails are much thicker.

 

[drhart]

If it red fox, they have lots of hair between their pads that shows up in tracks that coyotes don't have. The hair marks are hard to see in snow but a dead give away in muddy tracks.

 

[gman2153]

Originally Posted By: drhartIf it red fox, they have lots of hair between their pads that shows up in tracks that coyotes don't have. The hair marks are hard to see in snow but a dead give away in muddy tracks.

most notable difference - after the size difference/

 

[Dan25]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[kirby]

Dan, we get another snow. I'll post some pics of both canine prints fur ya.

BTW, on firm snow, mud or sand. A Red Fox print will sometimes not show any nail marks. Sometimes a coyote print might also not show nail marks on the similar ground.

Sometimes a coyote print may only show the two inner toe nail marks. Which are often very close together vs spread evenly apart.