Identify this track..

[Swolf]

I was a Hunting in the Chain Lakes area a week ago and came cross this track.

Not sure what kind of animal made it and hoping an expert here can provide some insight.

[thumper]

No 'expert' here but - Snowshoe hare.

[buckman]

Snowshoe hare perhaps.

[Dean2]

Big version

[Gboe8]

Rabbit

[Red Bullets]

My opinion only, with no perspective except the grass to use (how far apart are the sets of tracks and size) my guess would be a red squirrel. With these tracks the animal was running/loping more leisurely because the prints are crisp. Wrong kind of toe print for a hare. The pattern of the prints looks more like a squirrel pattern to me. We will never know.

[Talking moose]

Looks more like squirrel. Snowshoe hares doesn’t give you such a defined print in the winter do to the abundance of hair around the pads.
It’s really hard to see the pads and toes from a hare track. Easy on squirrels.
Size would help.

[KegRiver]

Looks like Squirrel to me.

[KGB]

Definetly squirrel - you can clearly see the imprint of the rear legs when she was sitting down and the tail print. It was sitting on its butt eating something most likely.

[fishnguy]

^ It was definitely running.

[JD848]

A weasel .

[Swolf]

Footprint is close to the hand size of my seven year-old child…

I see an imprint at the back that looks like it could be a rabbit tail but the foot prints are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.


And given the size of the print it’s hard to imagine a squirrel could’ve done it.

I appreciate the feedback gentlemen.

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by JD848

A weasel .

Definitely not.

If I were to bet, I’d put my money on a bunny.

[Chuck_Wagon]

5 toes on a squirrels back foot, 4 on a snowshoe hare.

[fishnguy]

^ This, plus one would be seeing squirrel’s all four feet leaving a distinct track more often than not, back feet having a fair resemblance to the front (more often than not). And you would usually not find them just randomly browsing in the open. Imo, it is pretty hard to confuse a squirrel from anything else too because of the way they move around. I will post a pic or two if I find on the phone (I take lots of random pics when I am out, lol).

I am pretty confident it is a bunny.

[Mulehahn]

Probably a rabbit if the size is as you say. But I am intrigued by the definition. Even if was just plodding a long most rabbit tracks that I have seen show definite signs of push off. Those rear legs just look placed then lifted, the heal is still crisp. The snow is probably wetter then it looks, but then I would be surprised a rabbit sank so deep. Must of been a big buck buck.

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by Swolf

Footprint is close to the hand size of my seven year-old child…

I see an imprint at the back that looks like it could be a rabbit tail but the foot prints are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.


And given the size of the print it’s hard to imagine a squirrel could’ve done it.

I appreciate the feedback gentlemen.

Given the location I wouldn't rule out a bigger beast. Maybe a grey squirrel.

[Sundog57]

Release the beagles!
(It's a snowshoe hare - depending on snow conditions you can get realy defined toe prints)

[JULIUS]

yup my money on the bunny. Sometimes when they run the front legs actually land then the rear legs touch down ahead of where the front legs had been. It gives the small mark from the front legs with the heavier mark being from the heavier back legs. chased and snared these a lot in my youth.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by Swolf

Footprint is close to the hand size of my seven year-old child…

I see an imprint at the back that looks like it could be a rabbit tail but the foot prints are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.


And given the size of the print it’s hard to imagine a squirrel could’ve done it.

I appreciate the feedback gentlemen.

Well that rules out any Hare or Rabbit.

I can't cover a adult Snowshoe Hare's track with one hand. Yes I have tried.
I used to snare a lot of Hare when I was younger.

Counting toes in your photo one might assume this was a injured animal.
I count four toes on one side and three on the other.

There is another explanation for this of course. Some of the toes may have been blotted out by snow thrown from the impact of the feet.

If that were the case the size would be right for a large Gray Squirrel.

I did note that the heal mark is to short for a Rabbit or Hare but about right for a Squirrel.

Still, I am not confident I can identify the track from a photo alone.
50+ years of trapping and tracking don't give me enough skill to do that reliably.

[6.5 shooter]

Three footed hare with huge gonads,