Identifying Cougar Tracks

Do you think you've seen a mountain lion track? Tracking teacher Dave Rohm explains the difference between a dog track and mountain lion track.

Dave made a plaster cast of Tecumseh’s track in October 2001. Tecumseh was two years and two months old when this cast was taken. We’ve never actually weighed him (and we’re not going to), but we’d estimate that he weighs somewhere around 145 lbs. As you can see, the track is about four inches across. The most common measurements for mountain lion tracks are 3.75 inches by 4 inches on the front foot. This varies a little with the cougar’s size and terrain.

In this photo, we’ve drawn black circles around the toe (digit) pads and palm (heel) pad to show you the shape. The overall shape of the track is traced in blue.

1. First, look for the overall round shape of the track, common to most felines. The mountain lion’s front foot has four toes and a heel that registers, which means they make an imprint in the ground.

2. The front foot of the mountain lion is larger and more asymmetrical than the rear foot.

3. Look at the palm of the track. See how large it looks? It’s almost twice the size of the digits. Canine tracks do not have this characteristic.

4. Look at the shape of the heel. Notice the dimple in the middle at the top of the pad just under the two middle toes. This is a big tracking identification clue; a classic cat feature.

5. Look at the space between the toes and the palm pad. There is a curved ridge, which some trackers call a linked ridge. Canines do not have this feature. They have a diamond or pyramid shape in this area of the track.

6. Let’s look at the toes. The first thing to note is that their shape is oval, and the most striking characteristic is this: the toes are offset. They point in a different direction from the heel pad with one toe ahead or forward of the others.

7. Notice the outer two toes. One is forward of the other. Dog paws do not have this feature. All of their toes point straight ahead or slightly toward each other.

8. If you try to draw an X between a mountain lion's toe pads, note that the X crosses into the heel pad. However, if you try to draw an X between a dog’s toe pads, the X doesn’t go into the foot pad. Sometimes you’ll be able to see the claw marks left by a dog’s claws above the toe pads of his print, but these aren’t always obvious.

From this photo we can see that this cast was made of a track of Tecumseh’s left front paw. Since this is a cast of a track, you would have to flip it over to reproduce the orientation that the track made in the ground.

Mountain lions have a lot of hair between their toes, and their paws are broad. They don’t sink as deeply into soft earth as you’d expect from so heavy an animal. Look at the tracks in the mountain lions’ enclosures and you'll be struck with how light and shallow they are. The toe pad impressions look like raindrop impressions in dusty earth. Dave made this cast in really soft mud.

Thanks to Dave Rohm for the plaster casting and the tracking descriptions. Dave and Melissa Rohm are frequent visitors to CRMLS and among our most loyal volunteers. The Rohms are wildlife photographers.