Animal Track ID Card

🦌White-tailed Deer

2-3 in long

Front Two elongated, pointed lobes (hooves) forming a heart shape. Dewclaws show in soft mud.

Hind Slightly smaller than front, same heart shape.

Gait Walking: diagonal pattern. Bounding: four tracks clustered together.

Claws No claws visible

Most common track in wooded campsites. Often found on soft soil near water.

🦝Raccoon

2-3 in wide

Front 5 long, finger-like toes splayed wide. Looks like a tiny human hand.

Hind Longer than front, heel often visible. Walks flat-footed.

Gait Hind foot prints near front foot, offset left/right.

Claws Claws visible on all 5 toes

Often found near water or trash. Mostly nocturnal - morning tracks are common.

🐇Eastern Cottontail

Front: 1 in · Hind: 3 in

Front 4 toes, small round print. Lands behind the larger hind feet when bounding.

Hind Much larger than front - elongated oval, side by side when bounding.

Gait Classic bounding Y-shape: two large hind feet forward, two small fronts behind.

Claws Faint claws on hind feet

The Y-shape bounding pattern is unmistakable. Often found at wood edges.

🐿️Gray Squirrel

Front: ¾ in · Hind: 1½ in

Front 4 toes in a tight cluster. Small and round.

Hind 5 toes, longer and wider than front. Often lands ahead of front in bounding.

Gait Bounding pairs: small fronts together, large hinds ahead - square cluster pattern.

Claws Thin claws visible

The square cluster is the key ID. Common at every campsite with trees.

🦊Red Fox

2-2½ in long

Front 4 toes in an oval, with a bar-shaped central pad. Often shows fur between toes.

Hind Nearly identical to front - slightly smaller.

Gait Direct-register trot: hind foot lands precisely in front footprint, making a straight line.

Claws Claws visible, fine and close-set

The perfectly straight line of single prints is the fox signature. Coyote is larger.

🐺Coyote

2½-3 in long

Front 4 toes, oval shape, larger than fox. Less fur between toes.

Hind Slightly smaller than front, same oval form.

Gait Direct-register trot like fox - straight line. Wider stride than fox.

Claws Prominent claws clearly visible

⚠ If pups are nearby, adults may be bold. Haze with noise if one approaches camp.

🐻Black Bear

Front: 4-5 in · Hind: 6-7 in

Front 5 toes in a wide arc above a large, chunky pad. Pigeon-toed.

Hind Much longer - resembles a wide human foot with 5 toes.

Gait Shuffling walk - hind foot lands slightly inside front track.

Claws Long curved claws up to 2 in ahead of toes

⚠ Secure all food immediately. Never leave smelly items in tent. Report to camp host.

🦨Striped Skunk

1-1½ in wide

Front 5 toes with prominent long claws (used for digging). Compact pad.

Hind Shorter claws, rounder toes. Heel visible.

Gait Slow, waddling walk - front and hind on same side move together.

Claws Very long front claws - most distinctive feature

Tracks often found near logs, disturbed soil, and grubs. Mostly nocturnal.