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Animal Track Identification - Pictures and ID Chart

Image Credit:
Val_Iva/Shutterstock
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

You don’t have to be deep in the forest to be an animal tracker. Animal footprints are often as close as your backyard or garden. Take a look at these animal track pictures and charts—showing footprints in both snow and mud. Now, you can identify which wild animal walked through your yard last night!

How to Track Animals and Identify Animal Tracks

Tracking is something that you learn best by doing. Get out there and look! Here are a few tips:

  • Animal tracks are easiest to find in mud, soft garden soil, sand, and snow.
  • Study the ground closely. Get down on your hands and knees. Note the size of the track and whether it shows claw marks. You may wish to make a sketch.
  • Track early in the morning or late in the day when shadows make prints easier to see.
  • Watch for animal droppings called scat. The scat will also help you track the animal. If the scat is dry all the way through, the tracks may have been left a while ago. On the other hand, if it’s still moist, it indicates recent activity. Not only can it provide valuable information about the timing of the animal’s presence, but it can also give clues about their diet. Scat can tell you if you’re tracking a vegetarian or a meat eater.
  • In case you lose the trail, don’t panic. Simply widen your search by scanning the area in a circular motion around the last track you found. This method increases your chances of picking up the trail again. Remember, patience is key when tracking animals.
  • The most important tip of all: don’t get lost! While tracking animals can be an exciting adventure, it’s crucial to prioritize your safety. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid getting lost. Carry a map, compass, or GPS device to ensure you can find your way back. Additionally, inform someone about your tracking plans and estimated return time.

By following these tips and staying cautious, you can enhance your tracking skills and gain a deeper understanding of the wildlife around you. So, grab your gear, head out into nature, and embark on a thrilling animal tracking expedition.

Animal Track Pictures in the Winter Snow

For those living in snowy regions, winter can be a great time to observe and identify animal tracks. The white canvas of snow makes it easier to spot tracks and decipher their characteristics. Take a moment to examine these common animal tracks and familiarize yourself with their distinct patterns.

animal tracks in the snow chart

Animal Track Pictures in the Mud

Here are the same animal tracks as they might look in a muddy garden or backyard!

animal tracks in the mud

We love all these animals, but if they are destroying your garden, here are simple ways to deter common critters:
Deer, mice, moles, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, voles, and woodchucks or groundhogs. 

Have you seen any animal tracks in your backyard lately? Tell us about it below!

Pets & Farm Animals

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com and a Purdue University Extension Master Gardener. She loves helping readers find practical, trustworthy answers—whether they’re figu...

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Kygal76</span> Mon, 03/31/2014 - 09:27
I was wondering if any one could help me. I live in northeast ky and we own some untouched land which adjoins another farm that is large and untouched about 300acres total. Well we keep finding these tracks and we can't figure out what they may be. The tracks are only 3toes about 1 or 1/2 inch deep it has a I guess a stride length of about 3ft maybe a bit larger the track it's self is quite large as well. When we found the first set of tracks we thought possibly it could have been walked over twice causing it to look like three toes but we are finding the same set all over the land. Any one have any ideas what this could be? Curiosity is killing me! We see a lot of different critters around this area and there have been some reports here lately of cougars being spotted which have not been in this area in a long time. Some people are reporting grey wolves here in ky as well and some have been killed and tested the DNA to make sure they were the grey wolf and they are. We have not have wolves here in ages either we have a lot of coyotes but not the wolves. We see a lot of deer here like any where else fox raccoons and bobcats but this is just got me puzzled people around here are seeing these tracks a lot and we have no clue what it could be. If you know or have any clues I would love to know. As I said we are finding more animal species here that have not been in this area in ages so it makes me wonder if there is some thing else new to our area. Thanks
<span>Ninjabean</span> Thu, 01/01/2015 - 06:24
IT IS AN OSTRIGE... BIG FLIGHTLESS UGLY BIRD!! MYTH THEY STICK.THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND.... fact they have 3 toes would definatley have a huge stride... they are all legs.....
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 06/11/2014 - 10:42

Although we're still stumped (see earlier response below), do you think it might be an escaped exotic animal, such as an emu or rhea? These are large flightless birds, sort of like ostriches, that leave 3-toed tracks. (Ostrich tracks are different.) You can find photos of emu tracks etc. online.

 <span>Grannysharon</span> Tue, 06/10/2014 - 22:15
I live in central ky. and have been finding three toed tracks for some time. These tracks are about 7 inches long and 5 inches wide at the toes, the toes are about 3 inches long with LONG claws. The toes all curve inward and there is a pad about 2-3 inches wide at the very back of the track. Whatever this thing is it walks on 2 feet with 2-3 feet between tracks. It can jump or fly because tracks appear and vanish, with none to show where it came from or where it went. I have pictures of the tracks and plaster casts. I need to know what this thing is! Serious replies please. It is not a turkey ! es
<span>Cathy Hammond</span> Thu, 11/06/2014 - 23:59
I live in Batavia, Ohio, and what you've described fits the description of what walked through my yard early in 2014! Exactly! What the heck is it? I'd like to know too.
<span>Abena</span> Tue, 04/15/2014 - 13:11
If they are 3 long toes radiating out, it is probably a wild turkey.
<span>Mike Gillespie</span> Sun, 04/06/2014 - 16:58
I came across your comments as I was looking to identify some strange tracks I found in our front yard back in Jan/Feb. They sound like the same type of tracks you saw and I live in Louisville KY. I'm going to see if i can upload them to this site.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 03/31/2014 - 17:27

We're stumped. A search online yields a few other mentions of three-toed tracks in Kentucky, but no answers. Not seeing a photo makes it hard to know what classification of animal it might be (canine, feline, weasel, deer, pig, bird, etc.). Do you think it might be possible that it is one individual animal that was born with less (or more) toes that normal? Or, if the third "toe" is behind the other two, that it is a hopping animal and the toe behind are actually 2 paw prints that landed together? Usually, four or five toes around a central pad would show for most canine/feline mammals, or two or four impressions for hooved mammals. Birds, such as ruffed grouse, may show three "toes" radiating out from a central point (but grouse have a stride much smaller than 3 feet).

You might try taking a photo to a wildlife expert, such as a nearby state park or nature center. Show a closeup of one clear print, as well as one of the path and stride, and provide measurements of length/width of an individual print, as well as the stride length. Good luck with the ID!

 <span>Dreamy</span> Thu, 06/11/2015 - 15:36
I live in South Carolina I've been trying to find the same prints you have and no luck did you ever find out what they were?
<span>Cathy Hammond</span> Thu, 11/06/2014 - 23:52
I, too, had a similar experience with prints in my yard early in 2014 after our first good snowfall. I live in Southwestern Ohio. Batavia to be exact, which is due north of Northeastern Kentucky. Unfortunately, I did not get pictures of the prints in my yard! I sure wish I had, as I've not been able to identify the prints. Here goes my description. Each foot pad is about the size of an adult males palm, with 3 claws in front of the foot pad. The 3 claws were not splayed out, and not attached to the foot pad. The 3 claws were in front of the foot pad. The prints were several feet apart and in a straight line, which leads me to believe it's bipedal. I'm stumped and so is everyone who saw them. I've looked at many prints on the internet in hopes of identifying them, but 3 clawed prints are hard to come by. Emu prints clearly show the 3 toes are attached to the foot pad. What my family saw clearly has 3 claws, not toes. We have a fair amount of deer, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, etc. Nothing matches what we've seen. I can't get it out of my mind. We get a little scared at night outside, not knowing. Shoot, if it were a cryptid, such as a bigfoot, at least it's more human like. If you come up with any ideas, I'd be thrilled to hear them.