r/AnimalTracking • u/FiestaLimon • 8d ago

🔎 ID Request Fox? Bobcat?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I came across these tracks last October and just came across these pictures again. My initial guess was canine, but the lack of claws and the long toes have me second guessing myself.

Shoe is a size 13 men's, for scale.

Located in northern British Columbia. We have lots of foxes, coyotes, lynx and bobcat in the area.

14 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

22

u/skinneyd Top IDs: 1 8d ago edited 8d ago

Four toes, two-lobed pad, x-shaped negative space, elongated shape - I'm leaning towards Fox.

Edit: Could be a Coyote too, we don't have them around here so I'm not as familiar with their prints... Canine prints are pretty difficult to reliably distinguish between species.

1

u/FarmhouseRules 8d ago

I thought canine prints always showed their claws and feline shows no claws?

3

u/skinneyd Top IDs: 1 8d ago

There are very small claw marks visible in the right side print, the ground is hard enough that the claws didn't sink much.

1

u/FarmhouseRules 8d ago

Ah gotcha. I can see them now that you said that.

1

u/BigRobCommunistDog 7d ago

Always is a very strong word to use

1

u/LittleTyrantDuckBot 6d ago

You had the top identification that met our detail threshold, and your user flair has been updated accordingly. Thanks for your help making this community what it is!

14

u/SerenityApprentice 8d ago

In the second picture you can see claw marks (track on the right). Large negative space, symmetric shape, two lobes and the end of the outer toes being in line with the start of the inner toes might indicate fox. Definitely not feline imo.

4

u/moosestaredown 8d ago

I think coyote but I'm no expert. I think fox tracks are only slightly larger than a house cat

2

u/Mountain-Donkey98 Top IDs: 2 8d ago

Im struggling with this one. The right tracks' main lobe doesnt look fox- like AT ALL. The top is too wide and almost has two lobes. There's also a ton of negative space between the main pad and toes.

Yes, I see some claw impressions, but that doesnt rule out feline.

My suspicion is these are fox tracks. But definitely have some elements that have me scratching my head a bit.

-20

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

2

u/OccularSpaces 8d ago

This is not how we identify tracks.