Ungulates

• Ungulates are hoofed animals. In North America, there are variety of these creatures. The largest variety of ungulate in North America is the Moose. Other ungulates include mule and white-tailed deer, mountain goat, Dahl sheep, elk and caribou. Look for two curved hoof marks facing inward. Larger ungulates, such as moose, may leave dew claw marks, if the soil is deep or muddy. Look for two small markings just behind the main curved hoof tracks. Look for ungulate tracks near grasses, bogs, water areas and muskeg, as ungulates are vegetarians.
  
  

Wild Canine

• Wild canine tracks are those left by coyote, wolves and fox. Canine tracks have a set of four paws surrounding, typically above, the main foot pad. One characteristic of wild canines that distinguish them from domestic canines is the "deliberate" nature of their tracks. Wild canine tend to be all business, whereas domestic canines are full of play. Look for canine tracks that go in a direct line of sight with very little deviation. This is one tell that it is most likely a wild canine. Domestic canine tracks tend to be all over the place; sniffing here and there and investigating things is a tell tale sign of a domestic dog. Wolf tracks may be upward of 6 to 8 inches wide, while red fox may be between 1 and 2 inches.
  
  

Wild Feline

• North America has three wild felines native to the continent. (Some argue there are four, saying the jaguar still inhabits areas of the southwest near the Mexican border. However, sightings have been extremely rare and are undocumented.) The largest wild cat in North America is the mountain lion. This cat is also known as the puma, Florida panther and cougar. Tracks have four toe pads radiating out from a center pad. A wild feline track is rounder than a canine. Lynx frequent the northern regions of the continent, and while the cat is about 1 1/2 times the size of a house cat, the paws and tracks look enormous. Lynx tracks are very round and are upwards of 4 to 5 inches in diameter. The lynx paw acts like a snowshoe, allowing it to move quickly and stealthily across snow drifts in pursuit of hare and rodents. The third wild cat in North America is the bobcat, an eastern version of the lynx. Bobcat tracks are much like the lynx: circular, wide and four toes radiating out of the center paw.
  
  

Bears

• While three bears are native to North America, it is a rare occurrence for the average person to find polar bear tracks. Black and grizzly bear are native to the continent. Black bear are in almost every state in the lower 48 and Alaska. Grizzly bears are still seen in western states such as Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and are frequently seen in Alaska. Bear tracks look a bit like abnormal human feet. Black bears evolved to be climbers and the toes and claws show this on the tracks. Look for tracks that have toes closer into the foot, much like grappling hooks. Grizzly bear (called Brown bear when they are within 100 miles of saltwater) evolved to be diggers and this reflects in the track. Look for tracks that have spread out claw marks that go deep into the soil.
  
  

Rodents, Mustelids and Raccoons

• Raccoon tracks are readily identifiable by the near human shape. While they do not possess an opposable thumb, raccoon tracks are slender and have thin fingers radiating out from the hand. Look for raccoon tracks near water sources. Mustelids include otters, wolverine, badgers, weasels, skunks and mink. These tracks have a slender set of three toes coming out from the main paw and a fourth toe off the side of the main paw. Most mustelids move in a serpentine fashion. Look for tracks set close together and bounding.
  
  Rodents include squirrel, mice, rats and chipmunks. These tracks are very small and delicate and are found near seeds and food sources.