How can you tell a cougar track?

Cougar tracks show four toes on both the front and hind paws, and an M-shaped heel pad with two lobes at the top or leading edge, and three lobes at the base. Their retractable claws do not show in their prints except on slippery or difficult terrain where they need more traction or during a prey pursuit.

What is the difference between a cougar track and a dog track?

Then look at the size of the track Adult cougar tracks average 3 1/2" tall by 4" wide. In contrast, coyote (and most other dog tracks) are longer than they are wide. Bobcat tracks are much smaller than cougar tracks, typically about 1 1/2" long by 1 3/8" wide.

Do cougar tracks have claw marks?

Claws: Claws occasionally register in cougar tracks, but they are sharp and thin when compared to the large blunt claw marks in dog tracks.

How do you identify cougar tracks in snow?

Mountain lion or cougar tracks tend to be large—up to 3.75 inches in diameter. Look for four toe prints with no claws, and three lobes toward the back of the paw. (Canine prints, like wolves and coyotes, only have two lobes on the back.)

How many toes does a cougar track have?

Cougar tracks look like those of a house cat, but are the size of a baseball. The tracks have four toes with three distinct lobes present at the base of the pad. Claws usually do not leave imprints. The front paw is always larger than the back paw mark.

Mountain Lion tracks - How to tell

How do you spot a mountain lion track?

Mountain lion tracks have a large, m-shaped (or trapezoid-shaped) palm pad, which has two lobes towards the front of the pad and three lobes towards the back of the pad. Front tracks are generally larger, wider, and more asymmetrical than hind tracks.

What time are cougars most active?

Food and feeding habits

Cougars are most active from dusk to dawn, but it is not unusual for cougars to hunt anytime during the day. Adult cougars typically prey on deer, elk, moose, mountain goats, and wild sheep, with deer being the preferred and most common prey.

What do coyote track look like?

Coyote prints are ovular and usually 2.5 to 3.5 inches long, sometimes with sharp claw marks on the front two toes. The four toes are usually close together, while dog prints are thicker and splayed in different directions.

Do cougars leave tail marks in snow?

While very similar to the lynx, the gait of a cougar is slow and deliberate, resulting in prints that leave a clear impression in the snow or mud. They typically walk in straight or deliberate lines, which may run to trees, and there may be a tail pattern dragging in the deep snow.

What does bobcat tracks look like?

Bobcat tracks are larger than a domestic cat and measure approximately two inches. Their front feet are just slightly bigger than their rear feet. Bobcats are diagonal walkers and direct register, which means that their rear feet land in their front footprints. Winter is the perfect time to go tracking!

WHAT does a cougar scratch look like?

Cougar Scratches

Similar to a house cat scratching furniture, a cougar will stand on its hind legs and drag its claws down a tree trunk. The scratches will be approximately four to eight feet off the ground, depending on the size of the cat, and run parallel and vertically down the tree a few feet.

What does mountain lion scat look like?

Mountain lion poop appears “ropey”. It looks like a cord with segments (although it can also be a solid piece) and can be as short as 5 inches and as long as 9.5 inches. A mountain lion's scat is also up to 1 inch wide (or more). The end of the poop may be blunt or pointy like a tail.

What does a possum track look like?

What Do Opossum Tracks Look Like? Opossum tracks are highly recognizable, as each foot has five toes and the rear tracks resemble those of an infant child. The inner toe of each hind foot is opposable and looks like a human thumb. Front prints are around two inches in diameter while back prints are slightly larger.

What do you do if you see a mountain lion track?

Slowly create distance

Back away slowly to give the mountain lion a path to retreat, never turning your back. Give the lion the time and ability to get away.

How can you tell a fresh animal track?

One of the best clues to determine if a track is fresh is to look for clearly defined edges. Wind, rain and time all wash away tracks, and they'll become less visible the more time passes. That's why looking for tracks after a heavy rain or fresh snow is a sure way to know that any tracks you see are likely fresh ones.

What is the major obvious difference between the tracks of a dog and a mountain lion?

Expert trackers look for the following to identify mountain lion tracks: Three lobes at the bottom of the pad. Dogs and coyotes have one indent at the bottom of their pads. Teardrop-shaped toes.

What will scare a cougar away?

Make noise by yelling, blowing a whistle or an air horn. If you have an umbrella, quickly open and close it while facing the cougar. Do not approach the cougar. Give it ample space to run away – don't corner it.

What part of a deer does a cougar eat first?

The deer is usually in one piece (rather than scattered about – a leg here, a leg there…). Note how the hindquarters are the first part to be fed on, and there's no attempt to drag the deer; it's in the open. …

How do cougars mark their territory?

Like house cats scratching furniture, cougars mark their territory boundaries by leaving claw marks on trees, stumps, and occasionally fence posts. Claw marks left by an adult cougar will be 4 to 8 feet above the ground and consist of long, deep, parallel scratches running almost vertically down the trunk.

What does raccoon track look like?

Tracks: Raccoon footprints are hand-shaped with a diameter that measures 2 to 3 inches across. They register five finger-like toes in both front and hind feet and also often register small claws. Their tracks are asymmetrical.

What's a skunk track look like?

Skunk Tracks

Skunk prints show five toes on all four feet. The long claws for digging on their front paws appear in tracks as small points in front of the toes. Large, rectangular heel pads on their back feet also have a second, smaller pad behind them that may appear as a single dot.

What does a wolf track look like?

Wolf tracks are about 5 inches long by 4 inches wide, with four symmetrical toes and evident claws, and a single lobe on the front of the foot pad. Coyote tracks are similar, but about half that size, and even the largest domestic dog breeds usually have smaller tracks.

What does a cougar footprint look like?

Cougar tracks show four toes on both the front and hind paws, and an M-shaped heel pad with two lobes at the top or leading edge, and three lobes at the base. Their retractable claws do not show in their prints except on slippery or difficult terrain where they need more traction or during a prey pursuit.

How big of an area does a cougar roam?

Habitat: Cougars normally are reclusive animals which avoid humans. They make their dens in rocky outcroppings, dense thickets and under uprooted trees. They are highly territorial— a male cougar may dominate a home range of 50 to 150 square miles (for comparison, the City of Seattle is 92 square miles).

Are cougars scared of dogs?

Although dogs offer little value as a deterrent to cougars, they may distract a cougar from attacking a human. Consider erecting a fence around play areas. Keep a radio playing. Make sure children are home before dusk and stay inside until after dawn.