This print in our backyard clay seemed broader and blunter than the nearby dog tracks, which had obvious toenails.
The toe pads I may have over-highlighted a bit, but the palm pad I think I shaded conservatively and it looks like it easily hits 1.5 inches across.
Update:
I was leaning towards cougar when I first saw it and this site has reinforced that notion for me:
http://www.cougarsanctuary.org/tracks.html
8 comments :
Yikes! Cougars are cute but I wouldn't want to meet one face to face! Use caution!
I would worry about cars and hunters and overworked postal workers more than I would worry about cougars BUT, there aren't exactly overworked postal worker tracks in your backyard either.
Maybe a little lesson in how to defend themselves against a cougar eh?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2721455542891667646
When I worked for the State, whistles were standard issue for children in high cougar areas. At least in those areas where the people preferred not to shoot the cougars. Many people simply wanted shooting rights.
The cougar doesn't like the noise, the child's voice doesn't carry far enough or can be diminished by rippling water etc.
Maybe whistles all around? Also I think on the State of Washington Website there is a section dedicated to "living with wildlife in urban areas", granted you are not exactly "urban" but I am sure some of the information could apply.
I misread what it was you were dimensioning -- the main paw-pad. The total track, being about three inches suggests that that "kitty" could take down a full-grown deer if it could catch it -- and it probably could, if it found the deer napping. And I have often caught deer napping while hunting! [Obviously, I am no "pussy-footer".]
I would not rule out bobcat because they have abnormally large paws relative to body size. The cougar prints I have seen while out fishing were absolutely massive - nearly as big as my hands. Of course those tracks were in the snow which can distort size. That being said, I would not be surprised at all if you had cougars in your area especially with the deer and elk population in SW WA. The snowpack could also be pushing them to lower elevations.
Tom
The moral of this story: Keep your eyes on your "frys".
Grandma Theresa
Oops, the plural of "fry" is "fry".
You get the gist.
Grandma Theresa
Oh, and here I thought you meant, "fries". And everyone ought to know that Cougar don't have fries with their hamburgers.
Post a Comment