Tracks/footprints

So I haven't blogged lately because I've been taking pictures for this blog...footprint pictures.  I wanted to do them before the rains started because the prints are so different in dry dirt/sand than in wet, and some of the prints we won't be seeing again until things dry out or warmer weather starts again.

I've tried to identify the prints too.  Some of them I'm sure of and some of them...well it could be. So here goes...

I saw these on my way to "the rock"  They were pretty fresh.  There were no fresh people tracks around-the tire tracks by my foot are lots older than the paw print and the people track on the other side of the picture is my print.  The print had no toe nails/claws to it.  One of the side toes is smaller and the main part of the pad edges are characteristic of a mountain lion.  The one thing that holds me back from being 100% on this one is that I wish I could see the "M" shaped pad better.  So maybe a mountain lion.

These are raccoon prints.  I've been seeing alot of them lately.  I didn't know they traveled the main trails so much.  One day I followed them for at least a mile on the same road.

These are turkey tracks.  How do I know they are turkey?  They were pretty big tracks, you can almost see a horse hoof print "behind" some of them.  I forgot to put my foot next to them for a comparison.  Turkeys also tend to walk "on a tight rope" as opposed to the photo of the next print.

This picture was taken at the barn after the chicken had walked by me.  We only have 1 chicken now so you can see that they don't "tight rope walk" much.

These are deer prints.  You can see them all over the place out on the trails.

These are Zoe prints.  Not only do I see Zoe's prints but there are many other horse prints out there too.

And there are usually tire prints out there too.  Bicycles, motorcycles, quads, 4-wheelers all use the same area I ride, so we usually see their tracks too.

The small squiggle is a small snake.  I wanted to get a larger snake print but I think they are all started to hibernate for the winter.  Not sure of the type of snake.

I was happy to find these prints...didn't think I'd be able to get these ones.  Ignore the horse hoof prints. What we see is the front and the hind footprint of a bear.  The hind has the bigger pad in the back-it's towards the bottom of the picture.  The front one is above it.  My foot is there just for comparison.  We've been seeing alot of bear scat lately and had a few sightings of a bear.  It was nice to catch the prints.

This is my footprint-thrown in just because.  Also tire tracks from a larger vehicle.

These are lizard tracks.  I didn't think I'd get these prints either-it's getting late in the season.  


So I'd like to add to these photos as I come across more tracks.  I usually see dog tracks because people walk their dogs out there frequently, but they can look so close to a coyote track that unless I actually see the animal I probably won't take a picture of that track.  Anyway riding to see different animal tracks and get pictures has opened up a new aspect of my trail riding experience.  I'd like to learn more about tracking too-I have some books at home of animals/tracks in our area.  I think I'll bring some pictures along with me on my rides.