Ask the Tracker Guy!

Since no real TRACKER GUY is available to answer your questions, allow me to join in on your mystery and to throw a couple of suggestions around. Besides, what other phrase could I use for the title of this page?

After a few years of hosting this website and running numerous tracking lectures, slideshows and courses, I have entertained many intersting questions from people on nature sign and animal tracks. The questions have varied, but are always a joy to respond to because I get to join in on the mysteries found by others. I don't even need to go outside! That is the downside, but it is still fun to test my skills through photos and contexts as sent from other trackers.

If you disagree with my answers or have further suggestions / comments, let me know, so I can post your input.

Send in your questions, photos, or comments to:
chad@wildernessrhythms.com
Enjoy!


The Big Weasel: Anke's mystery









 Question
Hello Chad,

I just found your website and decided to write you because I have been spending the last two hours trying to identify with certainty the tracks I found yesterday near my home. I have attached photos for you. I live in southern Quebec and in the past several years I have seen an increasing number of fishers and their tracks on a nature reserve near our home. I have become quite familiar with fisher tracks as a result. The tracks I found yesterday are definitely mustelid, with the 5 toe configuration front and back, but are MUCH larger than a fisher. I believe the animal is an otter. What do you think?

First of all the snow conditions yesterday: light dusting of new snow atop hard crust. This made for reasonably crisp tracks. The reference I used for measuring was my digital camera case, which measures 3 x 4.5. There is a small river about 2 km from where I found these tracks, and that river flows into a larger one which is about 4 km distant. My brother spotted an otter with a cub last June down at the larger river, so that indeed strengthens the possibility of these tracks belonging to an otter... .I have never seen otter tracks before, so would like to confirm these with you.

I followed the tracks for quite some distance as they meandered through the forest (maple-beech), and the primary gait the animal used was a grouping of our tracks, similar to a slow gallop that a dog would use. You will see that on the attached photos. At times the gait would switch to a line of single tracks, much like that of a trotting coyote, with the hind foot atop the front foot, but for short periods only. Was this animal's primary gait indeed a gallop ? Could you perhaps explain how the animal in my photos was indeed moving? Are the slight drag marks caused by the paws or the tail? Thanks very much for your help and I look forward to your thoughts on the tracks! By the way, are you offering tracking courses this year? I have always wanted to learn more about track i.d., gait patterns, interpreting tracks, aging tracks, etc. Enjoy the photos, and if you think you can use them on your site, please feel free to do so.

Regards, Anke

Answer
Hi Anke,
Thanks for showing me those photos. It is likely a fisher. If you followed it for a ways the otter would have done some sliding on its belly and be heading to some water. The tracks look more fisher like than otter to me from the photos. I like to look for track patterns. The fisher often uses that pattern, when moving slowly, then it will revert back to the offset pattern of weasels. The fisher is also known to use the following pattern that I have tried to show visually in text below:

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Also, the fisher would likely be sniffing out good hunting areas--sniffing around logs etc.. The otter would be going fairly straight towards more water. The size of the tracks suggests something large like a fisher too.

Speaking of large weasels, I had the pleasure of tracking some wolverine recently in the arctic--these tracks are very large. I have only seen a few though.
I would like to see more photos anytime you would like share... .

Yours in nature
Chad Clifford

Question 2
HI had a look at the tracks again yesterday and I also a well-used fisher trail (smaller animal)going from tree to tree to tree. These trees are huge red oaks and have cavities high up. Judging from the woody debris (small chips and rotten wood, most likely from inside the cavities) that the fisher is dragging about on its trail, I take it the animal is using the cavities. I will assume this is a female, since the tracks were smaller. Perhaps she is setting up for having young in one of the trees. Fishers are currently in mating season, so I am sure the male will find this female. His tracks were very close to her trail. I am familiar with the track gaits you illustrated, having seen those frequently. This is the first time, however, that I have seen a fisher using the gait I photographed ... and the size of the tracks, is why I became a bit confused.

Anyway, I will keep an eye on the activity out there, and perhaps I might even get to see the fisher(s). If I find anything else of interest I will send the photos to you. I will also keep my eyes out for otter tracks. WOUld love to see a slide. Saw one in the Gaspe last March in deep snow. Lucky you to see wolverine tracks up North!

Answer 2
Thanks Anke,
The slides are awesome to see--back in the Ottawa area we have a lot of otter activity and the slides on the flats and on hills are quite a site and common.

The diagonal walkers sometimes use a question mark or c shape pattern. I don't think the fishers really gallop especially if the patterns are close together---likely a slower gait than its regular patterns. ... WIth the fisher you may be able to see which is the front and rear. I think the photo shows the individual feet clearly enough. I dont know what else it would be in that area. The cavities you mentioned are interesting. I once found the den of a longtail (maybe a shortail) weasel that had a rabbit fur lined in the den--in the base of tree with tracks all around the area. I later read that these critters have been known to use the fur from prey in such a way. Sounds like a great area for tracking you have there too... .


Dog, coyote, bear? : Dan's Mystery
Question 1
I found these tracks in my driveway and just wondered if you can identify them. They are approx. 5 inches across, and the walking pattern is almost in a straight line
Sincerely,
Dan

Answer 1
Hi Dan,
The straight line of the tracks, instead of a diagonal pattern, is a pattern that is faster than the regular walk
where the rear end actually swings out a bit --looks like they are moving sideways slightly. In this case the rear end is out to the right--where the rear feet consistently land to the outside right of the larger front track. THe photos show two tracks in each photo--the large front to the left and the smaller rear to the right and lower down. Nail marks are evident--dog family. The 5 inch width, if both tracks were included in this measure, is likely a coyote or dog of similar size. I hope this makes sense, let me know if I can help or see more photos.
Yours in nature
Chad Clifford

Question 2
Chad,
The five inch width is only one track. There are several of them and they are all the same size. They really look too big for a dog (even a large one) or a coyote. We were thinking maybe it could even be a bear cub. Several in our town have seen bears in communities around us. We will keep checking for other tracks... .
Thanks again.
Dan


Answer 2
thank you very much Dan,
I looked at the photos again. To me, it still looks like the dog family. Here is why: I have re-attached your photo but highlighted (grey) the front track and the rear track (green). The rear track stepped on part of the front track. If the part in grey was 5 inches, that would be a wolf I suppose, but if the two tracks together were five then likely something a little smaller. But this could be my imagination running awild here. Black bears tend to have a long heel pad on the rear foot--almost human like shape, and the front feet somewhat rectangular. Let me know if you discover more clues to identifying your track. Great photos, by the way!
Yours in nature
Chad Clifford
Question 3
Hi Chad,
Thank you so much for taking the time to look at the photo's. We searched and found more tracks that better fit your description. I laid a quarter beside them so you can get some idea of the size. Thank you again. How interesting! How large of an animal do you think it is?
Dan
Answer 3
Awesome! Now these photos make it even clearer that it could be a coyote--in my mind. It is in the dog family for sure! That quarter in the photo is likely one inch diametre or so, making the larger track around 3 inches. Also, notice the inner two toes compared to the outer two toes. Coyotes outer two toes tend to be larger than the inner two. The photo to the left shows a common gait pattern (not the most common) used by the dog family. The bottom track is the rear foot (smaller than the fromt feet); the centre track is the front; and the top track is the rear. Without seeing that fourth track, I am hesitant to say more about that pattern

That stated, I am not sure where you are tracking so am not familiar with the local tracks. Animal sizes change from one area to another somewhat. That aside, my three top picks for this track would be: 1) a large coyote, 2) similar sized dog, 3) a very small wolf.


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