How Do You Identify Dog Paw Prints?
It can be an exciting experience to discover animal tracks in snow, dirt and sand. Canine paw prints can be easily mistaken for other species, such as the coyote, wolf, fox and cat. Canine prints reflect five distinct markings from their paw “pads.” The shape, angle and size of these pads assist in paw print identification. By following basic interpretation measures, it is easy to correctly identify a dog’s paw print. Examine all the paw tracks in the area. The accuracy of each print can be affected by the speed with which the animal traveled and the elevation of the terrain. Study all paw prints for a more accurate identification. Consider the territory. Should you be hiking in the mountains, be wary of dangerous animals (such as a bear) that may have left the animal tracks. If you spot paw prints in the snow of your neighborhood, the likelihood is greater that the tracks belong to a domestic dog or local coyote. Evaluate the animal paw print as a whole. Dog paw prints will generally
