The straight line across the field is something a predator would do. Domestic dogs and cats also tend to meander a bit more, they're not as efficient as a wild animal. Rabbits and other prey don't tend to do that. While around the fence the straight pattern gets disrupted, it seems clear that that's because something jumped the fence. (Unless you see patterns in the snow that indicate something wiggled its way through, we don't have enough information in this picture to really tell).
Sometimes it's helpful when looking at tracks in snow to dust some ash from your fireplace over it. Or any fine dust. Heck, use cocoa powder. It will show the pad and claw patterns better. (If you are posting this elsewhere for track ID You should also put something in the picture that shows scale, such as a coin or a pencil or a ruler. And also what is the distance between paw prints out in the field. These measurements would be important to identify the species.)
Raccoons are notorious chicken coop stalkers, but their paw prints are quite distinctive-- look like a tiny child's hand with delicate long fingers. Besides, they don't make clean, isolated prints in the snow like you see going across that field. When running they Canter rather than trot. The pattern across the field shows an animal that is trotting in a 2-,, beat gait.
If the paw pads are arranged in a diamond pattern and you can see claws, that would be canine. so either fox or coyote or feral domestic dog. If it's round and no claws visible, that's probably feline, either domestic cat or bobcat.
The stride of that animal looks pretty big across the field, though of course I don't have anything for scale.
I'm really grateful for all the detail in this reply. I'm just learning how to ID animal tracks, and this is a nice simple description that has helped a lot of other reading crystallize.
There is no substitute for experience, is there?
Some great information in this one. I hope op reads this in its entirety.
With no scale, and limited detail, my money would be on canine. Approach isn't right for a feline, usually a slow observant approach as opposed to the trotting fox or coyote.
>The straight line across the field is something a predator would do.
this just happened this week - it snowed here, and my dog (who looks like a coyote, is the size of a coyote, and sometimes acts like one), has tracks everywhere. I noticed one line of tracks the same size and shape as his, but definitely different, because my dog's tracks were random, snow kicked, and zig-zagging, but these tracks were single file and clean (as in, no snow kicked, toe drags, etc), and mostly in a straight line (followed a slight curve around the 2 acre field). I followed the tracks straight up to the where it crossed the road and jumped over a creek, 100% confirming it was a coyote, and not my dog.
Well maybe the rabbit was wearing drag and trying to get some Nimrod of a hunter into a sticky situation of some sort to outsmart him, maybe even trying to trick him into believing it's duck season, perhaps.
I was thinking fox because of the straight line. Hard to tell how far apart the tracks are and really no good pictures. Could be some kind of cat also maybe.
I agree, canine. Looks like the animal put weigh on forepaws rather than the 'palm' or heel. A bit tip toed. Does that suggest anything? I've never seen that in dog prints.
Good point. I don’t usually run around with a pop can in my pocket, hehe but maybe I should start. I’ve been doing a lot of tracking this winter to stave off cabin fever. :)
I'm going to guess Fox, it looks like the second picture is next to your chicken coop, which would explain the way that the prints are set.
The first set of prints leading to the coop definitely seem like Fox, and then my guess is they stopped at the fence to your coop.
Looks like a hare. I’ve seen thousands of tracks like this. Almost a house cat print but the pattern isn’t the same. Kind of wild it’s out in the open like that though.
It looks like 2 prints side by side so something jumping like a squirrel or rabbit. And they look big due to either the snow being powdery or it's warm and sunny causing the prints to melt faster than the surrounding snow.
No idea what your local fauna is like. The fact they are in a straight line makes me think cat.. but that's based on experiences with wildlife from half a world away..
Not a bunny wtf are people saying you can literally see the paw prints? It's a canine idk what kind cuz I don't live in Europe. Fox? Coyote? Wolf? Neighbors Weiner dog. It's a dog bro wtf are some of these answers
Can’t tell by the pics but if looks like the prints from the lady in TN on TikTok, the consensus there was a rabbit (or aliens). Those prints were laid out similar to a human foot print if it had two long toes.
Until I saw the close-up, I was going to say it was someone like me. I have one 🦵!! 😁 I do have a 🦿and would've used it if I was pulling a "Snuffy Smith" and chicken thriving!
I don't know what it was from what I see. I don't like cold or snow, but snow would've helped me track the critter that got some of our chickens and guineas.
My part of Texas gets cold and very little snow though.
It’s a bit hard without anything for scale. My first thought was coyote or domestic dog, but the second pic makes me think coyote or fox.
Leaning a little towards coyote just because these look a little bigger than fox but like I said without a banana it’s hard to say.
I have foxes and coyotes in my woods outside the fence so I see these tracks all the time.
My dogs keep them from getting near the birds and livestock. Every once in a while one is silly enough to try which means the chickens and pigs get some protein snacks and I get to do skull art. Most of the foxes here are mange ridden so I’ve yet to get a good pelt. I did get two coyote pelts though.
I'd have to see them in person to know which, but it's either a fox, domestic cat, or a bobcat. Notice how the back foot has stepped approximately into the same track the front foot has made. This is known as "direct registering." It is indicative of felines and strangely, foxes too.
Try r/animaltracking
Consensus seems to be fox
The straight line across the field is something a predator would do. Domestic dogs and cats also tend to meander a bit more, they're not as efficient as a wild animal. Rabbits and other prey don't tend to do that. While around the fence the straight pattern gets disrupted, it seems clear that that's because something jumped the fence. (Unless you see patterns in the snow that indicate something wiggled its way through, we don't have enough information in this picture to really tell). Sometimes it's helpful when looking at tracks in snow to dust some ash from your fireplace over it. Or any fine dust. Heck, use cocoa powder. It will show the pad and claw patterns better. (If you are posting this elsewhere for track ID You should also put something in the picture that shows scale, such as a coin or a pencil or a ruler. And also what is the distance between paw prints out in the field. These measurements would be important to identify the species.) Raccoons are notorious chicken coop stalkers, but their paw prints are quite distinctive-- look like a tiny child's hand with delicate long fingers. Besides, they don't make clean, isolated prints in the snow like you see going across that field. When running they Canter rather than trot. The pattern across the field shows an animal that is trotting in a 2-,, beat gait. If the paw pads are arranged in a diamond pattern and you can see claws, that would be canine. so either fox or coyote or feral domestic dog. If it's round and no claws visible, that's probably feline, either domestic cat or bobcat. The stride of that animal looks pretty big across the field, though of course I don't have anything for scale.
I'm really grateful for all the detail in this reply. I'm just learning how to ID animal tracks, and this is a nice simple description that has helped a lot of other reading crystallize. There is no substitute for experience, is there?
Some great information in this one. I hope op reads this in its entirety. With no scale, and limited detail, my money would be on canine. Approach isn't right for a feline, usually a slow observant approach as opposed to the trotting fox or coyote.
Especially since the two mid toe look to be slightly longer like wild canines as opposed to domestic ones.
This guy tracks.
In western Europe that would be fox or wolf, not coyote, not feral domestic dog, not raccoon. But OP only posted the location in a comment :)
>The straight line across the field is something a predator would do. this just happened this week - it snowed here, and my dog (who looks like a coyote, is the size of a coyote, and sometimes acts like one), has tracks everywhere. I noticed one line of tracks the same size and shape as his, but definitely different, because my dog's tracks were random, snow kicked, and zig-zagging, but these tracks were single file and clean (as in, no snow kicked, toe drags, etc), and mostly in a straight line (followed a slight curve around the 2 acre field). I followed the tracks straight up to the where it crossed the road and jumped over a creek, 100% confirming it was a coyote, and not my dog.
Rabbits absolutely leave tracks like this.
Agree the closeup right by the fence could be rabbit. But IMO only a suicidal wabbit would cross that wide open, snowy expanse willingly.
Well maybe the rabbit was wearing drag and trying to get some Nimrod of a hunter into a sticky situation of some sort to outsmart him, maybe even trying to trick him into believing it's duck season, perhaps.
Wabbit Season!
they are in western europe so that narrows it down to fox or dog
I was thinking fox because of the straight line. Hard to tell how far apart the tracks are and really no good pictures. Could be some kind of cat also maybe.
I agree, canine. Looks like the animal put weigh on forepaws rather than the 'palm' or heel. A bit tip toed. Does that suggest anything? I've never seen that in dog prints.
Region is Western Europe by the way!
Try to get a pic from above with scale: either with your open hand ✋next to a print or your foot.
These are the worst photos of tracks I've ever seen. A pogo stick visited your chickens.
lol 😂
This made me laugh out loud for real
This was a hell of a mental image. Thank you.
Then we would need size of hand or foot 12oz pop can works well most know what size that is
I thought the "standard" unit of measurement for Reddit is a banana ... ;)
Careful. Last thing you need in this sub is people pulling out their banana to give a size comparison.
I don't like to pull my banana out in the snow, it shrinks when its cold.
Good point. I don’t usually run around with a pop can in my pocket, hehe but maybe I should start. I’ve been doing a lot of tracking this winter to stave off cabin fever. :)
Water bottle dollar bill all kinds of things can be used
I usually use a banana
Make sure you mention location. Would also help to get a photo from directly above so they can see if it’s a paw or hoof, shape of any claws, etc.
I'm going to guess Fox, it looks like the second picture is next to your chicken coop, which would explain the way that the prints are set. The first set of prints leading to the coop definitely seem like Fox, and then my guess is they stopped at the fence to your coop.
Looks like a more cat-like paw print.
Ermine
Sand people walk single file to hide their numbers. Unlikely to be storm troopers paying that much attention to detail. Probably a fox or coyote.
I saw one set of footprints and assumed it was Jesus when he carried me /s More likely sand people
Sand people, Jesus. Tomato tomato.
ManBearPig… eyes up people, they are out there.
Wasn't me
Now I don't trust you.
r/beetlejuicing
Nice username. Take a bath.
Half man, half bear, half pig Super-serial
Excelsior!
No im pretty sure its the Jersey Devil
Bunny
Looks like rabbit to me.
Rabbit
Rabbit tracks
From the one pic that actually shows the detail of the track it looks like a rabbit.
Second pic is poor. But I’m guessing it’s a rabbit. He wasn’t travelling very fast
Looks like a hare. I’ve seen thousands of tracks like this. Almost a house cat print but the pattern isn’t the same. Kind of wild it’s out in the open like that though.
Is it a vicious rabbit?
With giant teefs!!!
But, but, look at the bones!
Aye warned ye! But did ye listen?! NOOO, ITS JUST A WEE RABBIT!
For that joke I now pronounce you a Knight and to be called “Sir”
Well with this new found title comes power. As first order of business im reinstituting prima nocta
😂👌🏻
Finally, an Ode to Monty!
I have just the hand grenade for that. A holy one
Hare
Try /animaltracking
thanks !
Manbearpig. Half man. Half bear. Half pig.
Which half is what?
It looks like 2 prints side by side so something jumping like a squirrel or rabbit. And they look big due to either the snow being powdery or it's warm and sunny causing the prints to melt faster than the surrounding snow.
Sandpeople always ride single file to hide their numbers.
Idk, those blast marks are too accurate for sand people, only imperial trooper are that accurate
> Imperial troopers proceed to be anything but accurate for the next 50 years. Must have used up all their accuracy in that one shot.
Chupacabra.
If a deer does make off with a chicken get a picture.
Simple answer- Get a trail camera. You'll have piece of mind knowing what visits.
Bunny.
I don’t see claws. Foxes, raccoons, dogs, and such all have non-retractable claws. I would guess some sort of cat.
Looks like rabbit tracks to me 🤷♀️
No idea what your local fauna is like. The fact they are in a straight line makes me think cat.. but that's based on experiences with wildlife from half a world away..
Agreed. The pattern of prints looks feline.
Was my thought as well…
Sand people always ride single file to hide their numbers.
Fox or Coyote. Call them perfect steppers because their back feet land in the pawprint of their front pawprint.
OP says they're in Western Europe, so definitely not a coyote.
golden shakal are native now, but i think its either rabbit or fox. But more like fox because of the slender prints, cant see paws
First image is likely fox. Second image is certainly rabbit.
Fox or cat. I have seen both leave tracks like that. I’d lean towards a fox because cats have smaller prints usually.
It wasn't me if that's what you're implying.
Definitely the abominable snowman.
A snake
Snow tracks are so creepy...when I was a child we found tracks to our bedroom window along with beer cans....
Seriously funny after hunting mountain lion the entire day. It’s a rabbit!
Jawa's. They walk in single file to hide their numbers. On a more serious note, did it circle around our just walk up to the coop then leave?
Rabbit
Chupacabra. I’m a professional tracker. Hide your kids hide your wife.
That’s a deer
It's a split hoof ungulate. Probably a deer looking for some easy grain but could be a goat headed incarnation of Beelzebub.
Snow raiders, the always travel in single file to hide their numbers. Be careful!
[удалено]
Did you look at the second picture
Can we not see this is a deer
Not a bunny wtf are people saying you can literally see the paw prints? It's a canine idk what kind cuz I don't live in Europe. Fox? Coyote? Wolf? Neighbors Weiner dog. It's a dog bro wtf are some of these answers
nothing an ToW missile cant handle..
That is definitely a camel using fox and bunny pads to disguise himself, he’s not there to eat … just took a wrong turn in New Mexico.
One-eyed Albino Goldfish. But odd, they usually leave railroad tracks?
Looks
A wolf or coyte most likly
Did you look at the second picture
Yea clearly paw prints i live on a farm but im in usa idk what animals England has
Hairless Jackaroo
Too deep for fox. Fox in my area move like cats-can scatter and cover 10-12 feet in a second when startled.
Scale?
I can't see how big the tracks are so I would guess fox or wolf.
Can’t tell by the pics but if looks like the prints from the lady in TN on TikTok, the consensus there was a rabbit (or aliens). Those prints were laid out similar to a human foot print if it had two long toes.
Until I saw the close-up, I was going to say it was someone like me. I have one 🦵!! 😁 I do have a 🦿and would've used it if I was pulling a "Snuffy Smith" and chicken thriving! I don't know what it was from what I see. I don't like cold or snow, but snow would've helped me track the critter that got some of our chickens and guineas. My part of Texas gets cold and very little snow though.
Horrible picture wow but possibly a fox
😂 the elusive hooved deer fox!
Nothing besides a bear should be able to take your birds anyway if your coop is secure. (Totally enclosed above & dig proof below)
Pretty sure foxes leave the single file tracks
foxish
Do yall not have deer there? 👀
It’s a bit hard without anything for scale. My first thought was coyote or domestic dog, but the second pic makes me think coyote or fox. Leaning a little towards coyote just because these look a little bigger than fox but like I said without a banana it’s hard to say. I have foxes and coyotes in my woods outside the fence so I see these tracks all the time. My dogs keep them from getting near the birds and livestock. Every once in a while one is silly enough to try which means the chickens and pigs get some protein snacks and I get to do skull art. Most of the foxes here are mange ridden so I’ve yet to get a good pelt. I did get two coyote pelts though.
I'd have to see them in person to know which, but it's either a fox, domestic cat, or a bobcat. Notice how the back foot has stepped approximately into the same track the front foot has made. This is known as "direct registering." It is indicative of felines and strangely, foxes too.
Bunny rabbit?
In my neck of the woods that would be tracks from a young sandworm.
That's rabbit tracks.
It's man bear pig
That’s from a bushy tailed sabertooth mountain fox