How to Identify Bobcat Tracks

Tracking adds a whole new dimension to a hiker's outdoor experience. Hunters learn tracking skills with a direct application in mind. For either purpose, the more species that you can identify the better. Bobcats are beautiful animals to observe in the wild. With some practice you will be able to identify their tracks, get up close and take pictures or bring home a trophy. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Check for claws. If you can see claws in the prints, you can rule out bobcats right away.

2. Estimate the size of the prints. Bobcat prints usually fit into a two inch by two inch square. The prints are also slightly wider at the widest point than they are tall.

3. Examine the outline of the track. An oblong shape probably means a canine made the track, perhaps a dog or a coyote. A round shape to the print is characteristic of the bobcat.

4. Compare the front and hind prints. You can identify a bobcat's front print by the dip at the top of the footpad. The rear footpad will have a flat top.

Tips & Warnings

• It is easy to preserve any exceptional tracks that you find. Use strip of cardboard to make a protective ring around the track. Pour in some plaster of paris mixed with water and let it harden for at least ten minutes. Then, dig well underneath the track and remove the plaster from the ground. Allow the plaster an additional day to dry before removing the dirt that remained attached.

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