That’s a big dog, if it’s a dog…

Beautiful day. Truly glorious, could hardly be better. I took a nice long morning walky, starting out with a light overshirt that ended up knotted around my waist – first shirtsleeves day in maybe two months, very unusual for January.

Of course the snow is melting so I’m paying for my pleasure with mud, but I’ll take it. The forecast says more snow in a couple of days but for today I’m enjoying the sun.

We definitely are sharing the place with cattle again, alas – and on the road next to new cattle prints I saw some really big canine ones…


That’s way too big for any coyote I ever saw; they tend to have rather small paws, at least around here. I’m not familiar with wolf tracks, it’s probably dog but they usually show more prominent clawmarks…


More than 3 inches front to rear. That’s getting near Little Bear territory, a quite big dog. There are rumors of strays around lately. Ferals can be more troublesome than wolves or coyotes or cats, because they’re not naturally afraid of people and sometimes downright hostile…

About Joel

You shouldn't ask these questions of a paranoid recluse, you know.
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6 Responses to That’s a big dog, if it’s a dog…

  1. Mike says:

    I’ll be the first to admit that I could be wrong, but looking at the track photos I think you may have an adult bobcat roming around.

    https://ww2.kqed.org/quest/2012/07/11/tracking-big-cats-to-learn-their-secrets/elbroch_bobcattracks/

  2. Joel says:

    We have a very great many bobcats wandering around, but I’d be surprised if that’s the track of one.

  3. doubletrouble says:

    What’s that blade Joel? Looks like an Ontario or ESEE, but I can’t make out the name…

  4. Vet says:

    That’s a Pyrenees track
    I know because I have two that range my property. Very common size

  5. If you can see claw marks it’s unlikely a cat.

    The only thing that stands out to me is that it’s a long foot. I see coyote print often and they tend to be more circular than oval.

    And – yeah – it’s big. Probably a Pyrenees! (or that big thing you caught on the camera a while back)

    There’s probably a web search that could give you all the details on wolf vs yote vs dog track. I never paid any attention to wolf tracking as they’ve never been common anywhere near where I’ve lived at the time.

    Tracks do give indication as to behavioral traits – which can help in differentiating animals. (i.e. – habituated vs non)

  6. Joel says:

    DT, it’s a 3” ESEE.

To the stake with the heretic!