Any idea what animal made the footprints?
this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2024
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Perhaps a fox, or a weasel or marten. My guess is as good as yours.
I was thinking raccoon, but yeah can't clearly identify the tracks from the pic
Looks like a squirrel to me.
They do pop out sometimes in winter, but isn't the set of prints in each clump too wide to be squirrel tracks?
I'm guessing it was a fox? everything else that would be in this area would leave vastly different tracks (deer, squirrel, rabbit, weasel).
I am clearly not an expert though. Just thought it was super cute
According to Google Gemini analysing your photo:
Based on the image you sent, the footprints are likely made by a red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Red foxes are common in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are known for their bushy tails and pointed ears. The footprints in the image show four toes on each foot, which is characteristic of foxes. The size of the footprints also suggests that they were made by a red fox, which is typically smaller than a coyote or wolf. Here are some other clues that the footprints were made by a red fox:
- The footprints are relatively small, about 2-3 inches long.
- The toes are spread out slightly, and the claws are visible.
- The footprints are in a straight line, which suggests that the fox was trotting.
Neat! Am I correct to interpret these prints as being left by an animal that was either running in quick gallops or doing short hops? They seem to be clumped in discrete groups instead of a trail.
Bunny hops are usually a lot farther apart. Could be fox prints; maybe it was hunting or listening for something in the tree if it’s hollow.
Pawthway?