It happens at least once a month. In the coffee shop, during a phone call, or conversing with a group of friends the question comes up, “How can I tell the difference between a cat and a canine track?” And it leads to the next statement, “Because I think I saw mountain lion tracks on the back forty.” While somewhat uncommon, these days it is entirely possible in Missouri that you did indeed see a big cat track (the 14th confirmed mountain lion since 1994 was killed in Ray County last December). However, usually when I have the opportunity to see the track in question, much to my friend’s chagrin, it turns out to be a big canine (dog or coyote).
A big coyote or dog can leave an impressive track but you can easily distinguish a canine track from a cat track by knowing a few key characteristics.There are some telling characteristics of cat tracks that distinguish them from canines. Unfortunately, perfect tracks are hard to come by – it’s either too dry or too wet or some other circumstance prevents the animal’s track from making a perfect impression. So, it is important to know all the various track characteristics so that you can identify the track by the clues available to you, even if they aren’t perfect.
Size, shape, stride, and claw markings are each tell-tale signs to watch for when looking at a perspective cat track. Claw marks are the first dead-giveaway. If the track at which you are looking shows claw marks above the toes you can be 99.99% sure it is not a cat track. All cats have retractable claws that are not protruding as they casually walk down a path. Canines on the other hand have non-retractable claws that always show in the soft sand or mud. The exception to this rule would be if you were lucky enough to find a track of a cat that was left at a prey attack site. In this case you would usually find sign of a great struggle and possibly drag marks in the area. This would truly be a lucky find!
Another obvious tell-tale sign distinguishing cats from canines is the shape of the ball pad. The anterior border, or front of the ball pad closest to the toes, is two-lobed. A canine’s ball pad is single lobed by comparison. The posterior side of the ball pad on a cat has three lobes that show in a print while a canine’s print generally shows only two lobes even though the pad does actually have a third lobe.
Paw of a Ray County Missouri mountain lion. Notice – no visible claws, 3-lobed posterior ball pad, and 2-lobed anterior ball pad.
Next, it is important to try to rule out a good sized bobcat. Like a lion, a bobcat has retractable claws and it is a common furbearer in Missouri. A bobcat has front and hind feet that are approximately the same size. Adult bobcats leave tracks approximately 1½ - 2½ inches long and 1½- 2½ inches wide with a walking stride of 8 to 16 inches.
In comparison, a mountain lion has front paws that are noticeably larger than its back paws. An adult’s front paws are approximately 3 inches long and 3½ inches wide and it has a walking stride of 12 to 20 inches. There is also sign that assists the outdoorsman distinguish between big cat sign and bobcat sign such as scat size and tail drag marks in snow.
Since a bobcat has a very short tail there will be no tail drag marks after a big snow. So, while cutting for sign in the snow if you find a 3 x 3½ inch cat track with a 15 inch stride and tail drag marks, you just might have cut a rare piece of wildlife sign indeed, in Missouri.
As I sit here watching the Missouri Blizzard of 2011, I think I’ve just found a good reason to venture out into the snow after it finally quits falling. There won’t be any school and most won’t be able to make it to work, so what more excuse and motivation do you need? Get out there and find the next lucky (or extremely unlucky, depending on your point of view) confirmed sighting. Remember, if the track has large and foreboding claw marks in front of the toes and you are having unnerving visions of a monster mountain lion crossing your property, it is most likely just that – an unnerving vision. Cats show no claws. You’re more likely looking at a very large coyote or a dog track. So says the One-Eyed Hillbilly.
Greg Stephens is a 35-year veteran & life-time student of the great outdoors. His column appears weekly in print & online publications. You can email him at gregstephens@one-eyedhillbilly.com. For more columns go to www.one-eyedhillbilly.blogspot.com.
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