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OT but of interest to some.

Mntncougar@aol.com

Fri, Mar 29, 2013 11:24 PM

I went birding at Boston Hollow today, and ran into some local area
residents I've met before. They told me they had just seen some cougar tracks in
snow. (These gentlemen have no way of knowing I have an interest in the
subject). Knowing that it was warm enough to melt fairly quickly I headed to
where they directed me. There was, indeed, a trackway of very large prints in
the snow, and I knew the only two choices were bear or cougar, but since
bears are not uncommon in the area I presumed bear, even though I knew that
the few tracks still somewhat intact did look like cougar. it appeared that
some tracks were slightly larger than others, which is consistent with the
fact that cougar front paws are somewhat larger.
I had nothing to measure with, but estimated that they were at least 4
inches wide, side to side. Since I've never seen bear tracks in snow I didn't
know what they should look like so I took pictures as best I could of the
only decent tracks. I did note that there was NO visible sign in those
tracks of claws, which would rule out cougar. However in some of the melted out
tracks the "toe" prints had melted right down to the ground, leaving the
possibility that it had happened because of the large claws of a bear.
However, one quick search for bear tracks in snow on Google convinced me
they were not bear. and, as I already knew, my pictures do match quite well
to cougar tracks in snow on Google, though they are badly degraded. I am
inclined to believe they are cougar tracks, though I know there are many
skeptics who will dismiss the idea. Obviously there is nothing conclusive here,
but I'll post a link to my pictures for anyone who is curious.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jdqgle1m7nf4qw/kWkadS_NY5?m

Google "cougar tracks in snow" or similar for comparisons

Don Morgan
Covnetry

I went birding at Boston Hollow today, and ran into some local area residents I've met before. They told me they had just seen some cougar tracks in snow. (These gentlemen have no way of knowing I have an interest in the subject). Knowing that it was warm enough to melt fairly quickly I headed to where they directed me. There was, indeed, a trackway of very large prints in the snow, and I knew the only two choices were bear or cougar, but since bears are not uncommon in the area I presumed bear, even though I knew that the few tracks still somewhat intact did look like cougar. it appeared that some tracks were slightly larger than others, which is consistent with the fact that cougar front paws are somewhat larger. I had nothing to measure with, but estimated that they were at least 4 inches wide, side to side. Since I've never seen bear tracks in snow I didn't know what they should look like so I took pictures as best I could of the only decent tracks. I did note that there was NO visible sign in those tracks of claws, which would rule out cougar. However in some of the melted out tracks the "toe" prints had melted right down to the ground, leaving the possibility that it had happened because of the large claws of a bear. However, one quick search for bear tracks in snow on Google convinced me they were not bear. and, as I already knew, my pictures do match quite well to cougar tracks in snow on Google, though they are badly degraded. I am inclined to believe they are cougar tracks, though I know there are many skeptics who will dismiss the idea. Obviously there is nothing conclusive here, but I'll post a link to my pictures for anyone who is curious. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jdqgle1m7nf4qw/kWkadS_NY5?m https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jdqgle1m7nf4qw/kWkadS_NY5?m Google "cougar tracks in snow" or similar for comparisons Don Morgan Covnetry

David Provencher

Sun, Mar 31, 2013 3:34 PM

Don,

I took a look at all the images you posted. Nice job. The tracks are at
least two to three days old and losing integrity. It looks to me like the
rear pad shape is consistently not the right shape for a felid. The rear pad
shape looks more like a canid rear pad. The tracks are not fresh enough to
be certain but my inclination is to say a large and bulky domestic dog
breed. I know claw prints are often visible in canid tracks but I have
examined thousands of Coyote tracks in snow and the claw imprints are often
faint and often are the first thing that degrades when the print softens and
melts out.

Dave Provencher

Naturally New England
http://naturallynewengland.blogspot.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: CTBirds [mailto:ctbirds-bounces@lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of
Mntncougar@aol.com
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 7:25 PM
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: [CT Birds] OT but of interest to some.

I went birding at Boston Hollow today, and ran into some local area
residents I've met before. They told me they had just seen some cougar
tracks in snow. (These gentlemen have no way of knowing I have an interest
in the subject). Knowing that it was warm enough to melt fairly quickly I
headed to where they directed me. There was, indeed, a trackway of very
large prints in the snow, and I knew the only two choices were bear or
cougar, but since bears are not uncommon in the area I presumed bear, even
though I knew that the few tracks still somewhat intact did look like
cougar. it appeared that some tracks were slightly larger than others,
which is consistent with the fact that cougar front paws are somewhat
larger.
I had nothing to measure with, but estimated that they were at least 4
inches wide, side to side. Since I've never seen bear tracks in snow I
didn't know what they should look like so I took pictures as best I could
of the only decent tracks. I did note that there was NO visible sign in
those tracks of claws, which would rule out cougar. However in some of the
melted out tracks the "toe" prints had melted right down to the ground,
leaving the possibility that it had happened because of the large claws of
a bear.
However, one quick search for bear tracks in snow on Google convinced me
they were not bear. and, as I already knew, my pictures do match quite well
to cougar tracks in snow on Google, though they are badly degraded. I am
inclined to believe they are cougar tracks, though I know there are many
skeptics who will dismiss the idea. Obviously there is nothing conclusive
here, but I'll post a link to my pictures for anyone who is curious.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jdqgle1m7nf4qw/kWkadS_NY5?m

Google "cougar tracks in snow" or similar for comparisons

Don Morgan
Covnetry

This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
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Don, I took a look at all the images you posted. Nice job. The tracks are at least two to three days old and losing integrity. It looks to me like the rear pad shape is consistently not the right shape for a felid. The rear pad shape looks more like a canid rear pad. The tracks are not fresh enough to be certain but my inclination is to say a large and bulky domestic dog breed. I know claw prints are often visible in canid tracks but I have examined thousands of Coyote tracks in snow and the claw imprints are often faint and often are the first thing that degrades when the print softens and melts out. Dave Provencher Naturally New England http://naturallynewengland.blogspot.com/ -----Original Message----- From: CTBirds [mailto:ctbirds-bounces@lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of Mntncougar@aol.com Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 7:25 PM To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org Subject: [CT Birds] OT but of interest to some. I went birding at Boston Hollow today, and ran into some local area residents I've met before. They told me they had just seen some cougar tracks in snow. (These gentlemen have no way of knowing I have an interest in the subject). Knowing that it was warm enough to melt fairly quickly I headed to where they directed me. There was, indeed, a trackway of very large prints in the snow, and I knew the only two choices were bear or cougar, but since bears are not uncommon in the area I presumed bear, even though I knew that the few tracks still somewhat intact did look like cougar. it appeared that some tracks were slightly larger than others, which is consistent with the fact that cougar front paws are somewhat larger. I had nothing to measure with, but estimated that they were at least 4 inches wide, side to side. Since I've never seen bear tracks in snow I didn't know what they should look like so I took pictures as best I could of the only decent tracks. I did note that there was NO visible sign in those tracks of claws, which would rule out cougar. However in some of the melted out tracks the "toe" prints had melted right down to the ground, leaving the possibility that it had happened because of the large claws of a bear. However, one quick search for bear tracks in snow on Google convinced me they were not bear. and, as I already knew, my pictures do match quite well to cougar tracks in snow on Google, though they are badly degraded. I am inclined to believe they are cougar tracks, though I know there are many skeptics who will dismiss the idea. Obviously there is nothing conclusive here, but I'll post a link to my pictures for anyone who is curious. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jdqgle1m7nf4qw/kWkadS_NY5?m https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jdqgle1m7nf4qw/kWkadS_NY5?m Google "cougar tracks in snow" or similar for comparisons Don Morgan Covnetry _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org