{"id":4302,"date":"2015-11-30T15:53:52","date_gmt":"2015-11-30T20:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/?p=4302"},"modified":"2016-12-13T19:11:54","modified_gmt":"2016-12-14T00:11:54","slug":"this-week-in-the-woods-dog-coyote-or-cougar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/this-week-in-the-woods-dog-coyote-or-cougar\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week in the Woods: Dog, Coyote or… Cougar?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Fresh snow yields fresh tracks! But how can you tell if you are tracking a coyote, your neighbor\u2019s dog, or the return of the cougar? Here are some helpful hints:<\/p>\n
Cats<\/strong>, including cougars, have retractable claws, therefore you will not typically see them in their prints. Cat prints are also wider than they are long.<\/p>\n
Dogs<\/strong> and Coyotes<\/strong> are a little tougher to distinguish. In general, a coyote\u2019s toes are positioned closer together, whereas a dog\u2019s toes splay out more. However, sometimes in soft conditions, such as mud or snow, a Coyote might spread as well. A dog\u2019s toenails will appear bold and blunt whereas a Coyote\u2019s will be sharper and closer together. Both prints are longer than they are wide. It is also helpful to look at the big picture. A Dog is more likely to wander in their path, but a coyote will be much more intentional with their movements.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDon\u2019t be fooled: If you see a print that registers as a cat, it may be that of a bobcat, which would be much smaller than a cougar or an average dog print.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![\"cougardogcoyotetracks\"](\"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/cougardogcoyotetracks-1024x819.png\")
<\/p>\n