Are these puma tracks???

[XbowMisiu]

I went out hunting this morning. Did not see any deer and before I went back home I walked around to see what’s traveling where. I came across these trucks. There was a set of larger prints (on the pictures) and a set of smaller ones. I am thinking these could be puma tracks. I took these pictures 15 min. west of London, Ontario. Close to Oneida Indian Reserve. Last year some people claimed they did see a puma there and I guess some dogs were lost, but no one has any solid evidence (pictures) of them being around London. The ground in the field was wet this morning and tracks are deep. Animal had good mass. The flash light on the pictures is a AA Maglite which is about 6" long.
What do you guys think???

[Grizzly Adam]

Hey ... someone can correct me if I'm wrong, and I may be, as we don't have a cougar population around here ... but it seems to me that cougars have the same retractable claws that all felines do, and don't leave claw marks in their tracks.

I know bobcats don't leave claw marks in their tracks. We do have lots of them.

We also have lots of red wolves, and those tracks look lots like theirs, but much bigger.

[R.J.]

Looks like a big dog track to me ? A farm I hunt has a large Malmute , he leaves " huge " tracks in the mud !

Check out this link ...

http://www.patc.net/images/res_cougar5.jpg

[VixChix]

I'd agree with the above posts about the claw marks. To my knowledge cats don't have claw prints in their tracks. These are probably canine tracks.

[Allan]

canine for sure.

[XbowMisiu]

Thanks guys for your help. I hunt this property for couple of years and this is the first time I saw these tracks there... I guess i have to be on the look out for a good size dog

[Grizzly Adam]

Suggested reading:

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Cujo by Stephen King
Call of the Wild by Jack London (The last chapter)
The Dog that Ate the Crossbow Hunter by Adam Henderson

[Pydpiper]

There have been several sightings around here (1 hour east of you) of these extraordinary cats.
(You use a Maglite for light? We need to talk.)
I operate an animal management company in your basic vicinity, and rest assured, they are around. Last year there were three reportings between Woodstock and Brantford that were directed to me, so you would have to take my word on those, Some people do.

[BUCKSHOT]

Hey Grizz!
How is the Poop stew coming?

[kendo kid]

Grizzly is correct. Only two members of the feline group do not have fully retractable claws... The cheetah and Cat Woman. Hummmm, come to think of it I have never seen Cat Woman and my girl friend together. I wonder. Could it be they are one in the same?

[BUCKSHOT]

Just thought I would throw in a quick visual for you, and a decent refference to the difference between tracks of Canines and Felines!

What makes this a Canine track?


What makes this a Feline track?


http://www.bear-tracker.com/caninevsfeline.html

Hope this helps as well!

[Grizzly Adam]

Hey Grizz!
How is the Poop stew coming?

Buckshot ...

Say what? Come again on that one ... don't know what you mean!

[BUCKSHOT]

Hey Grizz, I just got a good laugh out of your suggested reading and thought the one about the crossbow guy was neat!
I like your sense of humor and the way you stir things up- thus the poop stew!

[Grizzly Adam]

No problem, Buckshot ... the Ol' Grizz loves a laugh!

I did draw a blank on that "poop stew" one, though ... thought I'd missed something somewhere!

Now ... back to the stirring.

[XbowMisiu]

Thank you gentleman for giving me a quick course on tracks... I learn something new every day

(...)(You use a Maglite for light? We need to talk.)(...)

But Pydpiper, What’s wrong with using a LED Maglite??? It gives an excellent white light and it's small so I can always have it in my pocket.