A few of these tracks in the snow are from animals that have come into the property near the house, while other tracks are from deeper in the woods. We live close to several snowmobile trails as well and there are always fresh animal tracks to be seen in these areas. The following photographs were taken while I had been animal tracking on the property and from various days hiking in the snow during the winter here in Maine. In order for me to accurately identify animal tracks, I use the aid of Stokes Guide to Animal Tracking and Behavior.
Raccoon Procyon lotor tracks in the front of the house.
Raccoon tracks in the snow in the backyard.
American red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus tracks in the snow.
Domestic dog Canis familiaris tracks in the snow.
Domestic cat Felis catus tracks in the backyard from one of the several feral cats that can be found walking through the yard.
Eastern gray squirrel Sciurus carolinensis tracks in the backyard.
Eastern gray squirrel tracks in the snow can be found in between the trees in the backyard.
Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo tracks from a flock that was moving through the backyard.
Wild turkey tracks in the snow.
White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus tracks in the snow.
Moose Alces alces tracks found in the woods near a water source.
Moose snow tracks in Maine.
Moose tracks I found on a snowmobile trail.
I took this photograph after I saw an American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos land in the backyard and walk across the snow.
I found these snowshoe hare Lepus americanus tracks while hiking in the woods.
Snowshoe hare tracks in the snow.
I found these fisher Pekania pennanti tracks back in the woods. Fishers are also called fisher cats and polecats.
I found these ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus tracks back in the woods. Nicknames for ruffed grouse include drummer or thunder-chicken. The ruffed grouse is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a “partridge.”
I found these bobcat Lynx rufus tracks in the woods. I have also seen both a male and a female on two separate occasions on my trail cameras.
The two most common types of weasels in Maine are the long-tailed Mustela frenata, which can grow to 11-22 inches long with a tail of 3-7 inches, and the short-tailed Mustela richardsonii, which is typically 7-14 inches long with a tail of 2-4 inches.
After spotting a short-tailed weasel, I photographed its tracks.
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