1. Tracks

2. I. Dog and Cat families
A. Both …
4 toes both front and back
front and back look the same
B. Cats only …
no claws show

3. II. Cat family
A. 4 toes
B. No claws
C. Direct register –
back foot steps in front foot track
D. Species
1. feral cats (1.5”)
2. bobcat (2”)
3. Lynx (3-5”)
4. Cougar (3-5”)

5. Feral Cat – wild domestic cat
1 ½ “ wide track
Pad size of penny
9 pounds
No danger but may eat small animals you have trapped

6. Bobcat
2 “ wide track
Pad size of quarter
8 -40 pounds
No danger but may eat small animals you have trapped

7. bobcat

8. lynx
3-5“ wide track
Small pads surrounded by lots of fur
11-40 pounds
No danger but may eat small animals you have trapped

10. lynx

11. cougar
3 - 5 “ wide track
Heel Pad is 4 “ wide
pounds
Dangerous from ambush

12. Cougar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUmtStZ2bDI

13. Defense:
stay in groups
stay in open areas
Fight back if attacked –aim for nose & eyes

15. III. Dog Family
A. 4 toes with claws
B. front & back feet same
C. Species:
1. dog
2. wolf (gray/timber) lbs
3. coyote lbs
4. fox (red&gray) 10 lbs

16. D. Gait: diagonal/alternating tracks
Indirect register: rear foot lands slightly behind and to one side of front track

17. Coyote & wolf – size & habitat to ID
Lower peninsula – coyote
Upper peninsula – both
In town – coyote most likely
Size – wolf up to 5” long
- coyote 3” long

18. https://www. youtube. com/watch. v=0OMJt1spJ1A https://www. youtube

19. fox
” long track
Direct register
May retract claws

20. IV. Weasel Family
A. 5 toes front and back
B. claws show
C. Bounding gait

21. Weasel weasels : Least, short tailed & long tailed weasels
½’ to 2’ long
1-9 ounces
Turn white in winter
Tan/white belly
Fierce predators
normal prey – voles
single bite at base of skull
kill more than can eat

22. mink
2-3 feet long
Up to 3.5 pounds
Dark chocolate brown
Live in/near wetland water source
Like to swim
Partly webbed feet
Eat muskrats & store food in dens

24. otter
10-30 lbs
Eat fish
Medium Brown fur
Lighter chin
Live in/near water

25. Otter

26. V. Front & back foot different – 5 toes
Skunk
Raccoon
Opossum
Bear

27. skunks
Long claws
5 on front/5 on back
Back foot longer than front

29. Raccoon
Front paw looks like human handprint
Rear print flat footed long

30. opossum
Back foot rear facing toe
Front foot like human hand print

31. bear
Rear Look like human foot print
Front heel may not touch ground

32. VI. Rabbits & rodents
Long thing hind feet – 5 toes
Small round front feet – 4 toes
Galloping pace: back feet overlap front track
Front feet together = tree dweller
Front feet apart = ground dweller

34. Squirrel –

35. VI. Animals with Hooves
Direct register
Dew claws may show
diagonal walk/alternating walking pattern
Narrow end points to where they are going
Deeper track with hooves spread apart = larger animal
All tend to follow daily patterns – trails

36. Michigan Hooved animals
Sharp point = deer
Almost the same front to back = Elk
Huge with slight point = moose

38. VII. Walking Birds
3 skinny toes in anchor/arrow shape
toes point forward
Diagonal/Alternating track pattern

39. Turkey Tracks 3-5 inches
Prefer to walk but can fly
Roost in trees at night

40. Viii. Swimming Birds
3 Webbed toes
Geese, ducks
In mud near water

41. IX. Flying birds
3 toes face forward 1 faces back
Heron tracks by water
Raptor tracks if talons show
Alternating tracks if walking
Pairs of tracks if hopping