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ANALYZING THE CANINE TRACK
ANALYZING THE CANINE TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE CANINE TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE DEER TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE FELINE TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE OPOSSUM TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE RABBIT TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN TO ANALYZE THE WOODRAT TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE RACCOON TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE SKUNK TRACK
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE SQUIRREL TRACK
Tracks of this family are symmetric, usually oval in shape and will show four digits in each foot. The heel pad is triangular and smaller than the sum of the area of the toes. The center two digits will be equal in length. The alignment of the canid digits often allows for an ‘X’ to be drawn between the heel pad and above digits 2 and 5. They tend to put more weight on the front of their foot than do the felines. The coyote track will often show sharp narrow claws, particularly on the center two digits. Each of the digits will point ahead and will not be splayed out. When you find the trail of a non domestic species you will observe a no-nonsense line of travel quite unlike that of a domestic dog.
The gray fox track is quite cat like and can be confused with that of the bobcat as it is almost round, similar in size and will not normally show claws.
Its track is considerably smaller than that of the coyote or the red fox and it may show a hair pattern in the floor of its tracks.
The red fox is uncommon in this county but its distinctive chevron shaped heel pad will make its identity certain.
Front~Rear: The front canine track is larger than the rear track and the full triangular heel pad will register. The rear track is smaller and that heel pad may not fully register. Frequently it appears as a wing or wing with two lobes. Also the rear track may appear to be more round than the front.
Right~Left: Often you can separate the right track from the left by looking at the angle of the bottom of the heel pad as it might slope upwards on the inside of the track. Looking at the position of the track within the pattern will also reveal which side you are seeing.

RIGHT FRONT FOOT
Gait: A trot or a walk are the most common gaits for members of this family.

The gray fox will direct register its track and its short legs result in a stride of only about 10".
RIGHT TRACK OF THE RED FOX
COYOTE'S RIGHT FRONT TRACK FOLLOWED BY ITS RIGHT REAR TRACK
CLICK TO VISIT THE LITTER BOX
GRAY FOX TRACKS
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ANALYZE THE TOAD TRACK
LEFT REAR TRACK AHEAD OF THE LEFT FRONT TRACK
NOTE THE CLAWS AND LARGE TRIANGULAR HEEL PAD
REAR HEEL PAD IS NOTICEABLY SMALLER