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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>Oleksandra</span> Thu, 12/17/2020 - 17:42
A week ago we saw strange footprints on the snow in our backyard. Something jumped down the fence and walked across the backyard. Looked like a bobcat. The footprints appeared at night. Today in between 11a.m - 1p.m. new totally different footprints appeared. Look like deer but again something jumped down the fence.
<span>Mack Garrett</span> Tue, 10/20/2020 - 10:48
Two big round circles in our front and one in back tearing up our yard. Look like deer tracks. They are tearing our hard up. What can this be and what to do
<span>Danielle Bonati</span> Fri, 05/01/2020 - 11:11
My cat has seen this for two nights in a row and he meows like I've never heard him meow before he's been around cats and dogs and squirrels we feed them during the day but he don't make no sound like this and he won't stop crying when it's here they look like deep holes in the ground no claws no footprint deep holes
<span>Tammie Carpenter</span> Tue, 02/04/2020 - 17:00
I see these footprints on my shed every time it snows but don’t know what type of animal it is. It looks like hoofs?
<span>Darlene</span> Tue, 01/07/2020 - 14:02
I keep finding huge piles of animal poop on my deck next to house. The pile I found this morning I had to use snow shovel to clean it up. It is very black and looks like it’s loaded with cherries.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 01/07/2020 - 20:11

In the winter, berry-eating birds will litter area with black droppings. They are black from the berries. If the poop is the size of dog poop, then it could be raccoons. They also eat a lot of berries and their poop is black-ish in color. 

 <span>Gary Ronan</span> Sun, 12/15/2019 - 11:59
I have A deer freeway running through my 6.5 acre property! Trails all over leading to A thick stand of Norway pine's where they bed down. I also see skunk, fox, coy dog, squirrel, bear and other tracks on my land. I no longer hunt as I am too old so I suspect that they feel safe on my little plot!
<span>Tom Romeo</span> Wed, 12/11/2019 - 12:44
3-4 inch tracks. Looks like 4, maybe 5 toes in a hopping pattern. Unsure but definitely mammal. Image link below! Good site to catalog your observations is inaturalist.org. inaturalist.org/observations/36473946
<span>Coquille Garden</span> Mon, 12/02/2019 - 21:33
Asking people to guess what animal left a track using a picture isn't helpful unless there is scale. Never take a photo of a track without putting something down to show scale...like a quarter or a pencil/pen. You can also make a cast of a track using Plaster of Paris. After it's dry, lift it carefully. Plan ahead if you want to make the positive of the track. Put a frame of cardboard around the track to make sure your Plaster of Paris mold has straight edges. Remove the plaster mold frame after the track is completely dry. Wrap and tape your Plaster of Paris track (obviously the track mold is facing up now) carefully and tightly with cardboard/aluminum foil and spray the plaster track with cooking spray or release spray. Fill the container with hot wax. After it sets up and is cool, carefully separate the plaster track from the wax track. Careful if there are claws because they make break off in the wax and you'll have to carefully dig the plaster out.
<span>Makenna Banner</span> Tue, 10/01/2019 - 09:04
I was out rock hunting on the river bank of the Rio Grande with my sister and boyfriend. They were fly fishing while I was looking around and I came across a very strange track in the mud. It kind of freaks me out. Where can I submit a photo?