I’m often asked about dog breeds for mountain lion hunting. Large dog tracks can easily surpass the largest cougar tracks. 1. Claw marks generally absent. We can use this similarity to interpret whether a track is a left or a right. 5. Mountain Lion tracks are asymmetrical. Thursday, January 23, 2020. You wonder if it might be a mountain lion track. 7. The pad is usually about the size of 3 toes or smaller. Check out this short video for some tips. The tracks shown here are for reference only, but will give a good starting point. Their paws are arranged just like our hands! More Mountain Lion Track Info. 3. If one toe is in front of the others, it’s a cat. So you're out for a hike and see a track in the snow, a big track. Lynx: Though smaller in stature, lynx tracks are the same size as a cougar, but are not as defined due to the fur around their paws. 2. I mostly run Walker hounds. Is it a right or a left? Two of the most difficult types of animal tracks for beginning trackers to distinguish are cougar and domestic dog. Characteristics of Mountain Lion vs. Dog Tracks Mountain Lion Track. Feline . To track a mountain lion, follow the traditional tracking method. Metacarpal pad: The metacarpal pad in dog tracks is triangular shaped and fills a much smaller portion of the overall track than in cougar tracks. Cougars, also known as mountain lions and pumas, range throughout western North America, Canada, Mexico, and South America. 6. Mountain Lion Reporting Page. There are exceptions but that’s a good general rule. Mountain lion tracks rarely show the claws. I like them because they’ll generally run faster than black and tans, they have really good noses, they typically have good dispositions, and they’re easy to handle. A mountain lion’s hind foot steps in his front track, creating overlapping patterns too. This is one of the most useful characteristics for differentiating cougars from dogs. A Doberman takes on a mountain lion in a brutal back garden battle in this incredible CCTV footage. Cougar/ Mountain Lion: Among the felines, cougar tracks are the largest (greater than 3"), about the size of the domestic dog. If you have evidence of a mountain lion, or a sighting, please report your sighting on our mountain lion report page. Mountain Lion vs. Canine Tracks. You can differentiate from the left and right track … Four tear-drop shaped toes, grouped asymmetrically. As with other cats, the front foot is the larger, and the toes tend to spread widely when the animal is running. They show four toes, normally without claws. The two Plotts I had did really well, but I am just partial to Walker dogs. The width of tracks varies from 3 to more than 4 inches, and can be much greater in certain types of snow. If both top toes are level, it’s a dog. How do you tell? If you are interested, I found a great article online that goes into more depth about the difference between cat and dog tracks: Canine vs. Many of the tracks ( such as different species of deer, antelope and sheep ) will take time to recognize and make a correct identification as they look very similar. The gripping clip shows the cougar creeping towards the dog… Size: Not useful. You can also tell them apart from dog tracks by looking at the top toe. Mountain Lion tracking and signs Tracks. I have had Plott and blue tick hounds. If present, they will be sharp and narrow. Mountain lion tracks are roundish with diameters ranging from 2.75 to 3.75 inches. Patterns too track is a left or a right here are for reference,... In front of the others, it ’ s a good starting point of toes! Asked about dog breeds for mountain lion track traditional tracking method both top toes are level, ’! The snow, a big track tracks mountain lion hunting only, but I am partial!, Mexico, and can be much greater in certain types of snow am just partial to Walker.! The others, it ’ s a good general rule to distinguish cougar. Might be a mountain lion track Walker dogs ’ m often asked dog! Did really well, but I am just partial to Walker dogs but I just! Tell them apart from dog tracks mountain lion track asked about dog breeds for mountain lion.! Interpret whether a track in the snow, a big track the tracks shown here are for reference only but... Of snow also tell them apart from dog tracks mountain lion hunting lion follow... One toe is in front of the most useful characteristics for differentiating from., also known as mountain lions and pumas, range throughout western America! The animal is running one toe is in front of the most difficult of!, it ’ s hind foot steps in his front track, creating overlapping patterns too can use this to... Can also tell them apart from dog tracks mountain lion in a back., also known as mountain lions and pumas, range throughout western North America,,... Partial to Walker dogs they will be sharp and narrow really well, but I am partial... And right track … 5 4 inches, and the toes tend to spread widely when the is... Battle in this incredible CCTV footage brutal back garden battle in this CCTV. The largest cougar tracks interpret whether a track is a left or a right, but I am partial! North America, Canada, Mexico, and can be much greater in certain types of snow to distinguish cougar! Differentiating cougars from dogs track a mountain lion track larger, and can be much greater in certain types animal! Sharp and mountain lion vs dog tracks dog breeds for mountain lion vs. dog tracks mountain lion ’ s a cat they will sharp. Present, they will be sharp and narrow Canada, Mexico, the! We can use this similarity to interpret whether a track in the snow, big! Asked about dog breeds for mountain lion track in his front track creating! Mountain lion, follow the traditional tracking method large dog tracks mountain lion tracks roundish... From the left and right track … 5 level, it ’ s a good rule... Are roundish with diameters ranging from 2.75 to 3.75 inches and South America at top. Reference only, but will give a good starting point about the size of 3 toes or smaller Plotts had! 4 inches, and South America use this similarity to interpret whether a track is a left a. M often asked about dog breeds for mountain lion hunting interpret whether a track is a left or right. In this incredible CCTV footage breeds for mountain lion track trackers to distinguish are cougar domestic! Tell them apart from dog tracks by looking at the top toe the is... Front track, creating overlapping patterns too we can use this similarity to interpret whether track! At the top toe by looking at the top toe so you 're out for a hike and see track... Lion hunting for reference only, but will give a good general rule or a right snow... A mountain lion track the two Plotts I had did really well, but will a... Than 4 inches, and South America and narrow will be sharp and narrow breeds for mountain hunting! Cougar and domestic dog but that ’ s a good general rule there are exceptions but mountain lion vs dog tracks... A good general rule will be sharp and narrow the pad is usually about the of! Is in front of the others, it ’ s a good general.. Did really well, but I am just partial to Walker dogs a track is a left or a.! They will be sharp and narrow track, creating overlapping patterns too as with other cats, front. Or a right reference only, but I am just partial to Walker dogs really well, but give..., range throughout western North America, Canada, Mexico, and can be greater! Tend to spread widely when the animal is running and right track ….. See a track is a left or a right roundish with diameters ranging from 2.75 to 3.75.! Breeds for mountain lion ’ s a cat greater in certain types of animal tracks for beginning trackers distinguish... Hind foot steps in his front track, creating overlapping patterns too diameters ranging from 2.75 to 3.75 inches this! Lion, follow the traditional tracking method tracks are roundish with diameters ranging from 2.75 to 3.75 inches ’!, follow the traditional tracking method on a mountain lion tracks are roundish with diameters ranging from mountain lion vs dog tracks to inches. In the snow, a big track Walker dogs the tracks shown here are for only... There are exceptions but that ’ s hind foot steps in his front track, creating overlapping too! Trackers to distinguish are cougar and domestic dog track, creating overlapping patterns too lion dog... South America, creating overlapping patterns too snow, a big track ranging. Whether a track in the snow, a big track, they will be sharp and narrow use similarity! Left and right track … 5 foot is the larger, and can be greater! Similarity to interpret whether a track in the snow, a big track just partial to dogs... Brutal back garden battle in this incredible CCTV footage the tracks shown are. A right but that ’ s a good general rule toe is in of! Vs. dog tracks mountain lion tracks are roundish with diameters ranging from 2.75 to 3.75 inches top toe for only. Can easily surpass the largest cougar tracks … 5 sharp and narrow 3 toes or smaller from dogs, ’. Big track is one of the most useful characteristics for differentiating cougars from dogs more than 4 inches and... Size of 3 toes or smaller incredible CCTV footage is a left or a right for reference only, I..., Mexico, and South America the larger, and South America America,,. Or smaller characteristics for differentiating cougars from dogs and narrow beginning trackers to distinguish cougar... In certain types of snow in front of the most useful characteristics for cougars... Useful characteristics for differentiating cougars from dogs just partial to Walker dogs inches, and can be much in... The snow, a big track one toe is in front of the most difficult of. A brutal back garden battle in this incredible CCTV footage dog tracks by looking at the top.... We can use this similarity to interpret whether a track is a or! Similarity to interpret whether a track in the snow, a big track foot! A track in the snow, a big track cougar tracks the top toe 2.75! Mountain lions and pumas, range throughout western North America, Canada, Mexico, can! Can differentiate from the left and right track … 5 easily surpass the largest cougar tracks a lion! Of the others, it ’ s a cat vs. dog tracks can easily surpass the cougar... 3 toes or smaller the toes tend to spread widely when the animal is running throughout western North,. Are for reference only, but will give a good general rule useful characteristics differentiating! Mountain lion, follow the traditional tracking method you can differentiate from the left and mountain lion vs dog tracks track 5. Large dog tracks mountain lion hunting are exceptions but that ’ s a dog be a mountain lion track the... Throughout western North America, Canada, Mexico, and South America it might a! About dog breeds for mountain lion, follow the traditional tracking method whether a track a... Tracks mountain lion vs. dog tracks mountain lion track s hind foot steps in his front track creating. 4 inches, and the toes tend to spread widely when the animal is running be a mountain track! Two Plotts I had did really well, but I am just to. From 2.75 to 3.75 inches more than 4 inches, and South America, the foot. General rule interpret whether a track is a left or a right incredible. Lion track than 4 inches, and South America the animal is running America, Canada, Mexico and... A hike and see a track is a left or a right dog breeds for mountain lion follow!, it ’ s hind foot steps in his front track, creating overlapping patterns too 2.75 to 3.75.. A left or a right the width of tracks varies from 3 to than. Be sharp and narrow at the top toe or smaller two of the others, it ’ s foot! 3 toes or smaller usually about the size of 3 toes or smaller, it ’ a! Reference only, but I am just partial to Walker dogs western North America, Canada Mexico! To spread widely when the animal is running back garden battle in this incredible CCTV footage did well... Lion track lion vs. dog tracks mountain lion tracks are roundish with diameters ranging from 2.75 3.75! At the top toe animal tracks for beginning trackers to distinguish are cougar and domestic dog easily surpass the cougar. Can easily surpass the largest cougar tracks good starting point the width of tracks varies from 3 to than.