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What Are Traits of a Cougar's Foot Print?

Cougars, also called mountain lions, are a large cat native to North and South America. They can be found all the way along the Rockies in the U.S. and Canada to the Andes. It is a stalk-and-ambush predator, so it can be hard to track, preferring rocky areas and undergrowth. Paw prints can be found following rain in sandy and muddy areas. There are several features of cougar prints which can be used to identify it to the animal.

Size
- There are very few other animals in suitable habitats with as large paw prints as the cougar. Adult cougar paws are between 3 1/2 and 4 inches wide; cubs paws are smaller, but will usually be traveling with adults. The only other animals in the Rockies able to make similar size prints are wolves and dogs.
Shape
- The toes and rear pad of a cougar track are more circular than they are for wolves and dogs. The print will have four toes, which are symmetrical and have an even pressure distribution. The rear pad will have three lobes on the very back of the foot, whereas dogs only have two; cougars have a more pronounced rounded point near the toes.
Claws
- Claw marks do not show up as often on cougar tracks, but will for other animals which inhabit the same areas. Cougars, like domestic cats, can retract their claws when walking.
Toes
- On cougar prints, as compared to dog prints, the gap between the rear pad and the toes is much less pronounced. Cougar toes will also always point in the direction of travel, whereas dogs tend to splay their toes much more so the outer two are pointing away form the line of travel.

Animals & Science