Identifying coyote tracks

Today it is common for wild animals to infiltrate properties and homes. There are lots of ways that you can deal with such matters. One of the common animals that you may have to deal with is the coyote. You can actually track down a coyote by identifying the tracks. The footprints and patterns like the claw marks can help in the identification. Tracks can be around 2.5 to 3.5 inches in length. As a coyote walks, footprints are left and they also have claw marks. Coyotes are quite common in North America. There are lots of habitats where they can thrive. Coyotes can adapt very fast and therefore thrive in the urban and suburban areas too. They feed on fruits, birds, grains and small rodents.

The pace of the coyote depends on whether it is in a troy or loping. Usually, the animal oversteps in a trot. The hind legs and the body will usually land very close together, but other times they may be slightly ahead. Coyotes are omnivorous and therefore their scat can be varied. The common trait is the gray color, and other times you may notice hair and bones of the prey in its scat. Coyotes may scat on pathways and roads but it doesn’t have such a terrible odor.

The tracking of coyotes is usually done by the identification of the footprints. The footprints have characteristics that are symmetrical, and they also have a pad which is triangular in shape. The hind foot is smaller and therefore this foot pad is able to characterize the animal rather well.

Coyotes and dogs

Most times people are not able to tell the footprints of a dog apart from those of a coyote. You may end up tracking a dog if you are not careful. It is important to note that the nails of a dog are usually blunt and they are not as symmetrical as those of the coyote. The features of those tracks can be distinguished by the negative space which is found on the toes and pads of the coyote. Usually, you will notice the shape of an X that can be drawn in the negative space. Domestic dogs don’t have negative space.

The other thing that you could try is comparing footprints online. There are images that are available which can help you to distinguish tracks and then set the needed traps and capture the animals that you are targeting. If you spot a coyote, call wildlife removal services as they are better equipped to handle it.

Go back to the How to Get Rid of Coyotes page or email us if you have any other questions about Identifying coyote tracks