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Mount Rainier NatureCarnivore Tracking |
Brochure about Carnivore Tracking at Mount Rainier National Park (NP) in Washington. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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Mount Rainier National Park
Carnivore Tracking
National Park Service
Carnivore Tracking in
Washington’s National Parks
This guide provides basic information on carnivore tracking
with descriptions of the common track dimensions, track
patterns, and gaits. For a more comprehensive treatment of
wildlife tracking in the Pacific Northwest, we recommend David
Moskowitz’s book “Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking
and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and
Invertebrates” ISBN: 978-0-88192-949-2.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Wolf, coyote, and red fox (Canidae) . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Wolverine, fisher, marten (Mustelidae) . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mountain lion, Canada lynx, bobcat (Felidae) . . . 12
When observing animal tracks, it is useful to note both the
individual tracks and the track pattern across the landscape. In
carnivores, the front foot is usually larger than the hind foot.
The gait will vary based on whether the animal is walking,
trotting, loping, or bounding. Track patterns described as “direct
register” indicate that the hind foot usually lands directly on top
of the front track while an “overstep” indicates that the hind
foot usually lands ahead of the front foot on the same side. The
stride is the distance measured from the front of one foot to
the front of the same foot as the animal travels. The trail width
is the distance measured between the outermost tracks. The
group length is measured as the length of all four feet from the
back of the last track to the front of the first track in the group.
Common track patterns can help distingush species. The above
example shows the overstep walk, direct register trot, and side
trot patterns typical of coyote tracks, respectively. Front feet are
represented by open circles and hind feet are represented by
filled circles.
Introduction
Six carnivore families occur in
the Washington Cascades:
Cats (Felidae)
Canines (Canidae)
Bears (Ursidae)
Skunks (Mephitidae)
Raccoons (Procyonidae)
Weasels (Mustelidae)
Wolverine kits wrestle in the snow.
People are fascinated by the
natural world and seek to
observe wild animals in parks.
Animals can be difficult to
observe directly due to many
factors including: secretive and
shy behaviors, nocturnal habits,
or low density on the landscape.
Tracking is one way you can
observe the signs of wild
animals. The purpose of this
guide is to provide information
about carnivores in
Washington’s national parks
and to record tracks that can be
used for park scientist reports.
Six carnivore families occur in
the Washington Cascades: cats
(Felidae), canines (Canidae),
bears (Ursidae), skunks
(Mephitidae), raccoons
(Procyonidae), and weasels
(Mustelidae). This guide
includes tracks of nine species
of conservation interest from
three of these families. You can
contribute to our knowledge of
Mount Rainier’s wildlife by
reporting your observations of
any mammal, bird, amphibian,
reptile, fish, bee, bug, butterfly,
or other invertebrate to our
online database, where you can
upload photos: https://arcg.is/
rLOiy. If you believe you’ve
found wolverine tracks
anywhere in the Washington
Cascades, they can also be
reported to the Cascades
Carnivore Project: https://
cascadescarnivore.org/.
3
Wolf, Coyote, and Red Fox (Canidae)
Three species of canids are
native to the Washington
Cascades: gray wolf, coyote, and
Cascade red fox. Coyotes are
typically a lower elevation
species and may not have
historically occurred in the
subalpine habitat of the Cascade
red fox, so interactions between
these species are of particular
interest to scientists. Canids
communicate by scent marking
with urine and scat, often
leaving them in prominent
locations such as trail edges and
on rocks and logs. The overall
shape of canid tracks is more
symmetrical than felids, longer
than they are wide, and with a
triangular-shaped palm pad.
Canids have five toes but the
first is reduced. Four toe pads
register in their tracks with the
claws typically evident. The
negative space in a track usually
appears as an X shape for red
fox and H shape for coyote.
A Cascade red fox walks along the forest floor.
4
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
The toe pads of wolf tracks
often register deeper than the
palm pad with claw marks
present. Adult males are
noticeably larger than females
and younger males. The front
paws are significantly larger
and wider than the hind. A
telltale sign that a ‘wolf’ track is
instead a large breed domestic
dog is the presence of nearby
human tracks.
Front Track (top)
Length: 31/2–51/8 inches (89/10–124/5 cm)
Width: 27/8–47/8 inches (71/2–122/5 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 33/8–45/8 inches (83/5–113/5 cm)
Width: 25/8–37/8 inches (64/5–94/5 cm)
Direct Register and Overstep Walk
Stride: 437/8–485/8 inches (1111/2–1231/2 cm)
Trail width: 47/8–91/8 inches (121/2–23 cm)
Direct Register Trot
Stride: 511/8–61 inches(130–155 cm)
Side Trot
Stride: 46–841/4 inches (117–214 cm)
Trail width: 47/8–91/8 inches (121/2–23 cm)
5
Wolf, Coyote, and Red Fox (Canidae)
Coyote (Canis latrans)
Similar to wolves, coyote tracks
slant slightly forward with the
toes registering deeper than the
palm. The negative space
between the toes and palm
often show a raised mount on
the substrate it walked across,
with the outer toes appearing
like wings. The hind foot is
smaller than the front foot.
Front Track (top)
Length: 21/8–31/8 inches (52/5–74/5 cm)
Width: 1⅝–2½ inches (41/5–63/10 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 1¾–3 inches (42/5–51/2 cm)
Width: 1⅜–2⅛ inches (31/2–52/5 cm)
Overstep Walk
Stride: 24–38⅝ inches (61–98 cm)
Trail width: 2¼–7⅝ inches (57/10–193/5 cm)
Direct Register Trot
Stride: 32⅞–46½ inches (831/2–118 cm)
Trail width: 2½–4½ inches (54/5–111/2 cm)
Side Trot
Stride: 38⅜–53⅝ inches (971/2–136 cm)
Trail width: 4⅛–6½ inches (101/2–161/2 cm)
6
Cascade Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes cascadensis)
The Cascade red fox lives at
high elevations in subalpine
parklands and is the only red
fox native to Washington. They
appear to have suffered a
precipitous decline in the
northern portion of their range.
Cascade foxes have fur-lined
feet, which are large for their
body size and only slighter
smaller than those of coyotes.
Front Track (top)
Length: 17/8–21/2 inches (47/10–62/5 cm)
Width: 11/2–23/8 inches (37/10–59/10 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 13/4–23/8 inches (42/5–59/10 cm)
Width: 13/8–17/8 inches (31/2–47/10 cm)
Direct Register Walk
Stride: 22–261/2 inches (554/5–673/10 cm)
Trail width: 27/8–6 inches (61/5–151/5 cm)
Direct Register and Side Trot
Stride: 31–40 inches (787/10–1013/5 cm)
Trail width: 21/4–63/8 inches (57/10–16 cm)
7
Wolverine, Fisher, and Marten (Mustelidae)
Members of the weasel family
vary considerably in size and
behavior, and are thought to be
largely solitary. The
characteristic long bodies and
short legs of mustelids create
distinct loping gaits, so in
addition to the stride and trail
width, it is important to observe
how the tracks are grouped
along the trail or trackway.
Mustelid tracks are round to
oblong, and usually register five
toes on both front and hind feet
with obvious claws. The palm
pad is much smaller than in
felids and canids and has four
distinct subpads. The
orientation of the toe pads is
asymmetrical with a large
amount of negative space
between the toes and the palm
pad. While measurement of
mustelid tracks is the most
reliable way to confirm species,
the trail width can be especially
helpful. Overlap between the
size of males and females of
different species can make
identification of species
challenging. For example, it may
be difficult to impossible to
distinguish a large male marten
from a small female fisher.
A marten peers down from a branch of a tree.
8
Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
Wolverine tracks are large for
their body size but their front
and hind feet are similar in size.
Their feet are furred, which can
distort fine detail. They have
claws that are often, but not
always, apparent. The loping
gait is the most common form
of travel, though a direct
register walk may also be
observed for short distances.
Front Track (top)
Length: 43/8–55/8 inches (11–141/2 cm)
Width: 31/2–45/6 inches (9–11 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 31/8–7 inches (74/5–144/5 cm)
Width: 33/8–51/2 inches (82/5–14 cm)
Bound and Lope
Stride: 263/8–55 inches (68–1397/10 cm)
Trail width: 7–97/8 inches (174/5–241/2 cm)
Group length: 95/8–381/2 inches (50–974/5 cm)
9
Wolverine, Fisher, and Marten (Mustelidae)
Fisher (Pekania pennanti)
From 2015 to 2020, the National
Park Service, Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife,
and Conservation Northwest
translocated fishers from Canada
to the Washington Cascades.
While the population is still
growing and observations are
uncommon, fishers have
dispersed to areas beyond their
release sites. Fisher and marten
tracks are quite similar.
Front Track (top)
Length: 15/8–4 inches (41/5–10 cm)
Width: 15/8–31/2 inches (41/10–82/5 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 2–41/4 inches (5–11 cm)
Width: 2–31/8 inches (5–79/10 cm)
Bound and Lope
Stride: 181/2–431/4 inches (47–110 cm)
Trail width: 33/8–71/8 inches (81/2–181/2 cm)
Group length: 4¾–87/8 inches (12–221/2 cm)
10
Marten (Martes caurina)
There is significant overlap
between male marten and
female fisher track size, but a
keen observer may be able to
evaluate the combination of
track size, track width and
group length to differentiate
between the tracks of the two
species. Marten are nearly four
times lighter than fishers, so
their tracks will register less
deeply in snow.
Front Track (top)
Length: 41/4–53/4 inches(11–141/2 cm)
Width: 31/2–43/8 inches (9–11 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 3–7 inches (74/5–174/5 cm)
Width:31/4–51/2 inches (82/5–14 cm)
Bound and Lope
Stride: 263/4–55 inches (68–1397/10 cm)
Trail width: 7–10 inches (174/5–241/2 cm)
Group length: 91/2–26 inches (241/2–66 cm)
11
Mountain Lion, Canada Lynx, Bobcat (Felidae)
Three species of felids are native
to the Washington Cascades:
mountain lion, Canada lynx,
and bobcat. The overall shape of
felid tracks is round and their
palm pad makes up at least 50%
of the overall track size. These
two features distinguish cat
tracks from dogs. Although
A bobcat stands on the bank of a river.
12
felids have five toes, only four
register in their tracks. They
have retractable claws that may
not appear in the track. Felids
typically travel in a walking gait,
leaving direct register or
overstep track patterns, but they
also trot, bound and gallop.
Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)
Foot pads are sparsely furred
and tracks are usually well
defined. Tracks are larger than
bobcats. Rectangular
depressions, called scrapes, are
often made with hind feet to
mark territories.
Front Track (top)
Length: 31/8–4 inches (74/5–101/10 cm)
Width: 23/4–43/8 inches (7–11 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 27/8–41/8 inches (71/2–101/2 cm)
Width: 21/2–43/4 inches (61/2–121/10 cm)
Overstep Walk
Stride: 405/8–463/8 inches (1031/5–118 cm)
Trail width: 63/4–125/8 inches (171/10–32 cm)
Direct Register Walk
Stride: 271/2–421/4 inches (70–1073/10 cm)
Trail width: 43/4–11 inches (121/10–279/10 cm)
13
Mountain Lion, Canada Lynx, Bobcat (Felidae)
Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
Lynx are well adapted to snowy
environments, with large feet
relative to their body size. Foot
pads are densely furred and
tracks are less defined. Their
distribution in Washington is
currently limited to the North
Cascades ecosystem, but
sightings outside of this region
can occur.
Front Track (top)
Length: 25/8–41/2 inches (64/5–112/5 cm)
Width: 23/4–41/2 inches (7–112/5cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 23/8–43/4 inches (6–121/10 cm)
Width: 21/2–5 inches (6–211/10 cm)
Walk and Bound
Walk stride: 181/2–37 inches (47–94 cm)
Walk trail width: 31/2–11 inches (89/10–279/10 cm)
Bound stride: 39–1122/5 inches (99–285 cm)
Bound trail width: 63/8–12 inches (161/5–30 cm)
Bound group length: 15–551/8 inches (381/10–30 cm)
14
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Foot pads are sparsely furred
and tracks are often well
defined. The front is broader
than the hind and the palm pad
is larger than the hind. The
hind is more symmetrical than
the front and is often longer
than wide. Toes can splay
widely in deep snow, giving the
appearance of larger tracks.
Front Track (top)
Length: 11/2–21/4 inches (4–57/10 cm)
Width: 15/8–23/8 inches (41/10–6 cm)
Hind Track (bottom)
Length: 15/8–23/8 inches (41/10–6 cm)
Width: 15/8–21/4 inches (41/5–57/10 cm)
Direct Register Walk
Stride: 19–311/2 inches (483/10–80 cm)
Trail width: 23/4–8 inches (7–203/10 cm)
15
Front cover image of wolverine tracks in snow
by Cascades Carnivore Project/S. Shivley
You can contribute to our knowledge of Mount Rainier’s wildlife by
reporting your observations of any mammal, bird, amphibian,
reptile, fish, bee, bug, butterfly, or other invertebrate to our online
database, where you can upload photos: https://arcg.is/rLOiy.
If you believe you’ve found wolverine tracks anywhere in the
Washington Cascades, they can also be reported to the Cascades
Carnivore Project (CCP): https://cascadescarnivore.org/
More information on Mount Rainier National Park’s carnivores can
be found: https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/nature/carnivores.htm
Written by Tara Chestnut, David Moskowitz, Charon Henning,
Kayla Dreher, Erin Burke, Jocelyn Akins, Annie Kilby, Annie Runde,
Scott Shively, and Marwa Mahmoud
Layout design Yellowstone National Park
Track Illustrations p. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 by Charon Henning
Photos p. 3, 4, 12 NPS photos; p. 5, 10, 15 NPS/E. Burke;
p. 6, 13 CCP/Akins; p. 7, 11 NPS/K. Dreher; p. 8 NPS/D. Font; p. 9
CCP/Scott Shivley; p. 12 NPS/Jon Preston; p. 14 David Moskowitz
Funding for this guide provided by
Washington’s National Park Fund
February 2021