Identify Bobcat vs Coyote Prints in Snow

Here’s what to look for…

Bobcat/Coyote Prints: Key Similarities

Compare the two prints below…

• Both prints have four toes arranged in front of a larger central pad
• Both prints are similarly sized with adult prints apx 2” in width
• Coyote prints are slightly larger — but size is also dependent on an animal’s age, so the size of a print is not always useful for identification
• Bobcats and coyotes are both perfect steppers: felines and canines use direct register to place their hind paws directly in the print left by their fore paws
• Why do animals direct register? Because, when hunting, it reduces the chances of making noise by 50%.
• Adult bobcats and coyotes are both solitary animals, so their tracks will typically be lone-animal tracks

Bobcat/Coyote Prints: Key Differences

Shape

• Feline: The overall shape is pretty square
• Canine: The overall shape is a little rectangular (slightly taller than wide)

Toes

• Feline: one front toe is slightly ahead of the others
• Canine: both front toes are arranged symmetrically
• Feline: all toes point forward
• Canine: outer toes point outward

Lobes

• Feline: two lobes at top of the central pad
• Canine: one lobe at top of the central pad
• Feline: three lobes at bottom of the central pad
• Canine: two lobes at bottom of the central pad

I like to remember the difference by remembering that cats have many lives — and many more lobes on their palm and heel pads — than do dogs. Cats have 5 lobes in total. Dogs have only 3.

Claws

Cats retract their claws until needed, whereas a dog’s claws are always out. The presence of claw marks is one of the strongest differentiators in feline/canine print identification.

• Feline: no claws (except maybe very rarely)
• Canine: claws present (always)

Combining Clues

Taken all together — the overall shape of the print, the arrangement of the toes, the number of lobes, and the presence or absence of claws — in combination, these four clues will give you great confidence in your identification.

Coyote Tracks in Snow vs Domestic Dog Tracks

The easiest way to spot a domesticated dog track is notice how crazy it is. (Domesticated dog tracks are also normally accompanied by a human track.)

In the wild, all animals exist more-or-less in a state of permanent hunger. They are not keen to waste a single calorie or gram of body fat. The tracks of bobcats and coyotes tend to run in long, clean, uninterrupted lines. There are, essentially, on patrol or just moving efficiently between one area and another.

Whereas, domesticated dogs are big dumb pampered kings and queens. They enjoy an endless supply of food, treats, warmth, comfort, play. Every single day! At the same time! In complete safety! 

So domestic dog brains are wired, not for survival, but for fun. Their tracks betray this. 

Domestic dog tracks run here and there, giddily, wherever their nose takes them — and, in the wild, their nose takes them everywhere.

If a coyote’s track were a piece of string, it would be pulled almost taut between two points. If a dog’s track were a length of anything, it would be, comparatively speaking, a hot mess of spaghetti noodle knots.