How to Identify Backyard Animals by Their Tracks and Signs

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Many backyard mammals are nocturnal, but they leave clues. Here's how to read them.

Look in the right places

Fresh snow, mud near puddles, and sandy garden beds hold the clearest tracks. Early morning is best.

Common tracks

• Raccoon – hand-like prints with five long toes, front and hind looking like tiny human hands.
• Opossum – hind foot has a thumb that points sideways.
• Red fox – small, oval, four toes; walks in a neat single line.
• Domestic dog – similar to fox but rounder, with larger claw marks and a wandering path.
• Eastern cottontail – two large hind prints ahead of two small front ones.
• Gray squirrel – similar bounding pattern to rabbits but front feet side by side.

Other signs

Chewed nut shells, dug-up lawn patches (skunks hunting grubs), and well-worn paths under fences all tell a story.

Confirm with technology

A trail camera](/04-trail-camera-guide/) or apps like iNaturalist can confirm your guess. A pocket [tracking field guide helps too.

Respect wildlife

Observe from a distance and never handle wild animals; contact a licensed rehabilitator if one appears injured.