pic - lynx or cougar track

[pete_k]

Found some tracks last weekend behind Summerland.
This is a pic of one of the better tracks.
Any houndsmen here know what left this track?

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp24/pete_k/cattrack.jpg

[BlacktailStalker]

Looks like a sub adult tabby track to me as lynx tend to have more round toes but it does look partially melted out and has that "buffer" of slightly pressed snow around the perimeter of the track, signature of the fluffy feet of a lynx.
Clearly a cat though as it shows the 3 lobes in the heel pad... either way I'd like to be chasing it :)
Hard to tell on a computer and upside down!

[doubled]

Was there any tail marks in the snow? If so, you have got yourself a cougar.

[digger dogger]

Andy is right on sub adult cougar!
A lynx track in deep snow looks like a siloette of a light bulb(back feet), the toe pads and heel pad are covered in fur.. The toes on a lynx are a bit larger than a rice crispy grain.. heres a pic of a lynx pad..http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/diggerdogger/trlcam158.jpghttp://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/diggerdogger/trlcam157.jpghttp://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/diggerdogger/trlcam184.jpghttp://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/diggerdogger/trlcam185.jpg

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Was there any tail marks in the snow? If so, you have got yourself a cougar.


Why does everybody say this??? You don't often ever see a tail drag mark in the snow unless the snow is deep. Deffinately a cougar, and as Andy said a sub adult.

[doubled]

That is weird. Saw tail marks last weekend and there was maybe three inches of snow max.

[digger dogger]

Tail marks in shallow snow, means an older cat that has a tough time keeping it's tail up high.
Or it's chasing/being chased!
The tail will touch the ground if it's bounding!

[BlacktailStalker]

Never seen a cat drag its tail myself but our snow is bullet proof so doesnt say much.

[Fisher-Dude]

I've always seen tail marks on cougs. Saw them last week in 2" of snow on a mid-sized cat track.

[tinhorse]

looks like a Lynx

[eastkoothunter]

Young-ish cougar from the looks of it. It helps if you have the stride of the tracks to, and depending how much snow a lynx track won't sink as deep.

[twr]

wouldnt you be able to tell if it was a cougar or a lynx just by how far apart the tracks are? no matter if it was a young one or not.

[bruin]

wouldnt you be able to tell if it was a cougar or a lynx just by how far apart the tracks are? no matter if it was a young one or not.

x2....................

[Tyler21]

Eastkoothunter i agree with you, you seem like you have ran a few in your day? send me a PM and we can talk. stu

[Darksith]

I don't think thats a cat track at all, its too melted, but it could easily be a wolf

[tomcat]

IMO thats a wolf track. Its to oval to be a cougar track. Heres a good picture of a cougar track.

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt231/tomcat37-2009/IMG.jpg

[Barracuda]

track does look doggy to me.

[Spokerider]

If you flip the pic 180 deg to view, it helps visualize it.......for me anyway.

Yes, it does have the semetry of a canine track, but, there is an absence of claw marks in the snow......indicating a likely cat track.

There *appeaar* to be what resembles 3 lobes on the rear edge of the back pad.......feline properties, however, the snow depth is scant, the track is somewhat melted out, and it has been rained on, or had melt water drip on it, so the rear pad could still be that of a canine if the melt happened in just the right places....... ie; the rear edge of the back pad.

Then as others have mentioned, there is a depression from the surrounding foot fur..........most likely from a cat.

I`m going to say cat.....from a hind foot specifically. Front pads tend to look more like the classic feline track that we can easily identify being broader, and more oval than a rear pad, as tomcat`s pic shows.

The depth of the snow makes it difficult, for me anyway, to discern if it`s a lynx or lion.

[brad ferris]

I'm a rookie here but I'm going to say it seams to clean to be a lynx those fuzzy toes and all mat any rate let's put it in a tree and find out.

[pete_k]

sorry bout the quality.
If I run into tracks again I'll be sure to get stride info.
Spokerider: You are exactly right. The snow was very hard, crispy. It had been raining off and on. I looked very closely for claw marks and could not see any or reminants of any. There was a definate impression around the track.
I just thought it was kind of small to be a cougar (even though i've never seen a Cougar track before).
Thanks to you all for posting your observations. I like this kind of stuff.
Like I said. Next time I'll pay attention to the stride as well.

[JCVD]

Pretty sure thats a cougar track.

[Look74]

Have trailed cougar for many miles and not seen any tail marks, but I see lots of front paw marks that to some may look like tail marks. You may find the same marks when looking at a lynx track, and the lynx has a short tail. The stride of a bob cat walking is about14" cougar 20".

[Nait Hadya]

wouldnt you be able to tell if it was a cougar or a lynx just by how far apart the tracks are? no matter if it was a young one or not.

not necessarily, a big tom lynx on the move can really stretch out. look for the small toes and a larger fringe area.