I thought it might be kinda fun to have a look at some tracks I have photographed over the years.

Let's see how many can be identified without the benefit of indications of size or the inclusion of the entire scene the photographer saw.
(hard to get it all in one photo)

I realize that many of you have not had the benefit of seeing tracks in the snow so I'll give a clue with each photo.

This is just for fun so please keep in mind that even though I know what made each track, I would not be able to identify them all without the benefit of having been the one to photograph them.

Think big, think big nose.


Black large


They are everywhere, in desert, farms, cities, .and cartoons.


Night Stalker, bob tail.


Got outa bed, honey


Size of a Beagle. brother to skunk


In the Pines, PM


Oh Dear!


Bigger then Oh Dear!

Too many at once. Looks like a Lynx, rabbit.

answers can be for one or any number.

My hope is that people will have fun with this and not try to make it a who knows more contest.

There is a Lynx track but no Rabbit track.
But you are right, the one does look a lot like a rabbit track.
I'll give you a hint, it isn't a rabbit but it does chase rabbits.

Several of the species represented here do not inhabit Texas as far as I know, but people travel and may have seen the tracks in other states, especially the northwestern states.

Would you folks prefer if I told you what species are represented and let you decide what photo belongs to which species?

Hmm (I am not good at snow tracks, well, I am not good at any tracks)...

2. Black large- some kind of bird, considering the hint, maybe a crow

4. Night Stalker, bob tail- lynx, might be the one el Rojo pointed out

5. Got outa bed, honey- bear, not certain what kind

1. Moose
2. Beaver
3. Fox
4. Lynx
5. Bear
6. Ferret
7. Squirrel
8. Deer
9. Elk

Two out of three, you are better then you think. And very nearly three for three.

Five correct and you grazed one. And came close enough to scare the dickens out of another.

A hint, not a squirrel but an eater of squirrels.

In the pines is a Pine Marten

You got it!

Considering that one of the species represented only occurs in the Northern states and Canada and is not often seen even where it exists I think it only fair to give a more specific clue for that species.

The clue, (is very closely related to the one below it). which has been correctly idenified.

Six have been correctly identified.

I will post which ones tomorrow AM.

The three remaining have all had at least one very close guess.

Interesting

As promised.

#1 Moose
#2 not identified
#3 not identified
#4 Lynx
#5 Bear = Black Bear
#6 not identified
#7 Pine Marten
#8 Deer = Whitetail Deer
#9 Elk

As promised.

#1 Moose
#2 not identified - Buffalo
#3 not identified - Coyote
#4 Lynx
#5 Bear = Black Bear
#6 not identified - Badger
#7 Pine Marten
#8 Deer = Whitetail Deer
#9 Elk

You got #3 right.

With only two left I think the time has come to reveal the last two.

#2 Is a Raven
#6 is a Fisher

In summery they are
#1 - Moose
#2 - Raven
#3 - Coyote
#4 - Lynx
#5 - Black Bear
#6 - Fisher
#7 - Pine Marten
#8 - Whitetail Deer
#9 - Elk

This winter I hope to photograph the tracks of as many species as I can. Mostly for personal reasons.

If folks liked this challenge I'd be happy to do another with photos taken later this winter.

If you think of a way to improve on this effort I'd be happy to consider suggestions.

I started this project some years ago as part of an effort to photograph as many local species as I could.
My goal was to record the presence of as many local species as possible, be they Bird, Animal, Flower, Mushroom or Butterfly and any other living creature I came across.

I have managed to photograph most of the more common species and a good many of the less common as well.
So I decided to add to the information accumulated so far by adding photos of tracks, eggs and other unique aspects of the creatures I photograph.

My hope is that I can expand on peoples knowledge of the area through the use of my photography hobby.
I'm sure by now most folk have realized that I am not a professional photographer. LOL but I sure do enjoy it as a hobby. I especially enjoy sharing what I see.

All of my photos are meant to be shared and are published under a creative commons license, which means that they may be used by anyone for personal enjoyment and shared with acknowledgment but are not to be used in any way, in any money making endeavor whatsoever without permission from me personally.

I do grant such permissions if I feel they will help incease people enjoyment of the natural world. I do not ask for compensation for such.