Need help identifying animal tracks in snow.

[Travis Leanna]

These were taken this past saturday in Wisconsin. I'm not sure if it is a wolf or cougar track. There is a large population of wolves in the area, and a cougar has been spotted in the area, but cougars are really rare here.

[Scott S]

In your top picture, it looks like there might be evidence of a claw–mountain lion tracks don't show claws. But it's hard to rule out mountain lion given the quality of your pictures. The tracks are about as wide as long (which would suggest cat), and there aren't obvious claw marks. Also, it looks like the animal was directly registering (i.e. the front left foot stepped almost exactly where the front right one did), which is also something that cats usually do and dogs/wolves don't.

Got any better pictures?

[Travis Leanna]

Sorry Scott, these are the only two I have. I was surprised at how far apart the tracks were, which as you suggest points to direct registering. The prints were almost 3 feet apart.

[Cayenne Redmonk]

By the general shape (no index digit, middle digits about equal length), and hint of claw in top photo, I'd guess canine, But if the print are one ontop of the other from a feline it would look about the same. Hard to say.

[j lan]

Not lynx?

[Kattt]

"Not lynx?"

That would be a very large lynx, at 3 feet apart.

[j lan]

Just asking because I have seen Canadian Lynx near that area and they can be up to 41 inches.

[Nick Gatel]

"By the general shape (no index digit, middle digits about equal length), and hint of claw in top photo, I'd guess canine, But if the print are one ontop of the other from a feline it would look about the same. Hard to say"

Agree.

[Scott S]

Looking at the second picture again, the tracks look more elongated than in the single picture above. And I can sort of see claw marks. I'd vote canid now, too, but tracking is an art, not a science.

[Sharon J.]

I'd guess feline, but I'm no expert. Here's a nice site tho

http://www.bear-tracker.com/caninevsfeline.html

[Travis Leanna]

The person who sort of oversees the Wisconsin DNR's role in wolf pack study says this is a wolf track. That jives with most opinions on here. Thanks everyone!

[Luke Schmidt]

I'm thinking wolf too. Partly the track but also the pacing. Tracks can be confussing but often a look at the pace of the tracks clears things up.

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