Racoon paw prints8/6/2023 Raccoon tracks have no negative space so the toes connect directly into the palm like fingers, while cat toes will have an obvious space between. When you’re dealing with partial tracks, the best way to identify raccoon vs cat tracks is by looking at the negative space between the toes and the palm. This mistake is most likely to be made when you find a raccoon track that doesn’t register toe #1 (as discussed in the above section). However, it is possible to confuse raccoons with cats in situations when the tracks are only partially registering. This is true for all bobcats, house cats, mountain lions, tigers, etc.įor this reason whenever you’re dealing with clear tracks that show all the toes, it’s basically impossible to confuse raccoons and cats. Raccoons have 5 toes while cats only have 4. Generally, the easiest way to tell raccoon tracks from cat tracks is to count the toes. So next let’s explore some of the most common misidentifications with raccoon tracks like cat, skunk & opossum tracks. Knowing how to identify both the front and hind tracks of raccoons will give you a massive upgrade in your ability to identify raccoon tracks from a single track. You might also notice the hind track is a bit larger than the front, although this is easiest to see in ideal substrates like snow or mud. This means typically when you see a raccoon trail, you’ll often see two tracks side by side that includes a front and hind. The best way to practice identifying these differences is to find a clear raccoon trail in the sand, mud, or snow, then study all the tracks very carefully until you can discern both the hinds and the fronts.Ī useful trick to remember is that raccoons have an unusual gait pattern where the right hind often lands next to the left front, and the left hind lands next to right front. This short toe combined with less overall splaying of the foot is what makes the hind track appear much less hand-like than the front. In tracking terminology the inner toe is sometimes referred to as toe #1 (in human terms, it’s the thumb) and in raccoons it’s much shorter on the hind foot compared to the front.īecause raccoons have such a short inner toe on the hind foot, it’s quite common for beginners to misread the track as having 4 toes when there are actually 5. One of the main differences between front and hind tracks of raccoons is the size their inner toe. Differences Between Front & Hind Raccoon Tracks So if you really want to get good at identifying raccoon tracks in all situations, it’s important to look at the differences between front and hind tracks, as well as how these compare to other types of animal tracks. It’s amazing how often raccoon tracks can be confused with things like cats, skunks and opossums. However a common point of confusion is when you’re dealing with partial tracks, or when all you have is the hind foot. Most people can get pretty good at identifying raccoon tracks by the front foot simply because it looks so much like a human hand. ![]() Tracks measure 1.5-3.2 inches across and 1.7-3.1 inches in length.Their footprints are hand-like with an obvious asymmetrical shape and the claws are often visible in the tracks.Raccoon tracks have 5 toes on both the front and hind feet.I’ve had a lot of fun tracking these critters over the years, and today we’ll explore some key things to help you identify their tracks in a variety of possible scenarios: Raccoons are also a common visitor of garbage cans and compost bins, leaving plenty of opportunities to track raccoons close to home.īecause they’re so common, knowing how to identify raccoon tracks is a really important step on the wildlife tracking journey. These masked bandits love to hunt for tasty morsels along the edges of creeks and wet areas where they have no fear of getting their feet muddy. Raccoon tracks are some of the most common footprints found in north america. Note the long fingerlike toes lacking negative space between the palm.
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