Identifying Wildlife Tracks

Have you ever looked out the window on a snowy day and wondered whose tracks those are in your backyard? This instructable will outline a few of the most common backyard visitors and how to identify their footprints.

Identifying wildlife tracks is a great way to learn about your surroundings and expand your knowledge. You can also enjoy this challenge with kids and help them become winter wildlife detectives.  

It is important to note that not all animal tracks are identifiable. Snow conditions play a big part in whether or not a track can be correctly identified. If the snow is too deep, tracks can appear larger than they actually are, and melted snow can reduce the detail of an animal’s footprint. In these cases, you will need to use your imagination to envision which animal left their tracks behind!

• Winter clothes to keep warm
• (Optional) Phone or camera to document your findings

Take a look at the weather forecast and dress accordingly before heading outside.

Find a nice snow-covered area that is frequented by wildlife, whether it be at a local park, hiking trail, or your own backyard. It doesn't have to be a large conservation area with lots of trees - animals can be found anywhere, even in the city!

This step should be pretty easy. Look for any tracks in the snow that do not belong to humans. To make identification easier, try to find fresh or recent tracks left in shallow snow - they tend to have the most detail.

Below is a guide on how to identify some of the common animals you may find in your backyard and beyond. For more advanced guides, I recommend reading the following articles: https://www.backpacker.com/skills/identify/how-to-identify-animal-tracks-in-snow/ and https://www.greenbelly.co/pages/animal-tracks-identification-guide.

#1: Rabbit

One of the most frequent tracks found after a snowfall is those of rabbits. Look for the repeating bound patterns. Each group of 4 tracks typically forms a tall, thin rectangle; the two hind feet are longer, and the two front feet are oval-shaped and set on a diagonal. Rabbits often leave droppings on their tracks; they are brown, round, and roughly a quarter-inch in diameter.

#2: Squirrel

Squirrels are bounders like rabbits and have a wide and blocky bounding pattern when compared to them. If tracks are clear you may see the long skinny toes. Follow their tracks and they will eventually lead to a tree or other structure for them to climb. Their tracks are in sets of four with the larger back feet ahead of the smaller front feet. They also tend to place their front feet side by side. 

#3: Domestic cat

After a fresh snow, chances are you will find cat prints right outside your house. Most domestic cats have 5 toes on their front feet and 4 toes on their hind feet with each measuring about 1 to 1.5 inches. Unlike coyotes, cats do not show their claws in their tracks because they are retractable. They also like to walk in a straight line.

#4: Mouse 

Mice tend to make a four-print hopping track pattern with a distinct tail drag in the snow. Mouse paw prints are usually less than half an inch long and their footsteps run in parallel lines. Their front feet have four toes, while their back feet have five. 

#5: Coyote

Coyote prints are ovular and around 2.5 to 3.5 inches long, with sharp claw marks on the front two toes. Their four toes are close together, while dog prints are thicker and splayed in different directions. In addition, coyotes typically run or walk in a straight line, leaving few meandering paw prints in their wake. Domestic dogs tend to wander aimlessly, frequently crossing their own routes.

#6: Sparrow 

The tracks of small ground-dwelling songbirds like sparrows are often seen in backyards and wooded areas near food sources. Their prints are only about 1.5 inches long and have three forward-facing toes, with one longer toe reaching behind.

#7: Wild Turkey

Wild turkeys have three toes and their tracks are about four inches long. The center toe points straight forward and is longer than the other two. Turkey tracks are often found in open fields, where they forage for leftover seeds and grains.

#8: Ducks/Geese

This one is pretty obvious, what other type of animal would have those distinctively shaped webbed feet?People can usually tell when tracks belong to geese because their middle toe is longer than the two toes on either side of it. Their tracks are typically four inches in length. Because of the way they walk, goose tracks are slightly turned toward each other. Duck footprints are very similar to goose tracks, but are smaller, around 2.5 inches in length.

I hope you found this Instructable helpful. Enjoy your time outside!