If you want to go to the main bobcat page, here is the link: Bobcat Page

The red arrow points out a pair of domestic cat tracks, for size comparison with the bobcat tracks below right. The bobcat walked here first. The domestic cat was my cat, Boots, who followed me on a walk and stepped next to the bobcat prints.

This is one of the most perfect bobcat tracks ever. A nicely detailed right front footprint in mud. This track may belong to a male bobcat due to the size of the metacarpal (heel) pad.

Another perfect bobcat track in mud. This may belong to a female bobcat due to the smaller metatarsal (heel) pad. This appears to be a right hind track.

A very nice bobcat print in deep mud. This print shows the details of the foot pad structure very well. The two lobes on the leading edge of the pad are very clear in this print.

A pair of bobcat tracks in mud. The one above is the right hind foot and the one below is the right front foot. On both tracks, the leading toe is very apparent. This is toe number three. Toes are numbered beginning with the inner one, or the "thumb." The inner toe sometimes shows up in bobcat tracks. It is called the dewclaw.

Here you can see the tracks of a gray fox next to those of a bobcat. The bobcat's feet are slightly larger than the fox's. The fox tracks show typical canine structure. The feline tracks show the larger heel pad and asymmetrically aligned toes that are typical of all felines.

This nearly perfect bobcat track was found in wet sand near the river. Notice the small white hair on the left side of the footprint. This perfect track shows all the details that make this a cat track. The two lobes on the leading edge of the metatarsal (heel) pad and the three lobes on the hind edge of the pad. The lack of claw marks. The asymmetrical alignment of the toes, with one toe leading. The c-shaped negative space between the heel and the toes. The M-shaped heel pad. The overall round outline of the track. This is a right front foot.

This close-up shows the metatarsal pad from the track above. Notice the line on the lower left? That line is actually the edge of the foot. When measuring this track, you would use that edge, rather than the bigger outline, to give you a better size estimate of the foot. This is called the minimum outline method of measuring tracks, and is the correct way to measure them. Also note that the lobe on the right is longer than the lobe on the left. This makes it the right foot. The outer lobe is longer on feline and canine tracks, a useful characteristic to help you tell left from right tracks.

On the left are the pawprints of a mama bobcat. On the right are the smaller prints of her cub.

This highly detailed bobcat track shows all the details. There is an imprint from the dewclaw, also called the pollex, or "thumb." The carpal pad, located higher up on the "heel" is seen here. The leading toe is very clear in this imprint. This is the left front track. The dewclaw is only located on the front foot. There is no dewclaw on the hind foot.

This cast was made from the perfect track above. A indicates the leading toe. B indicates the imprint left by the dewclaw, or pollex (thumb). C indicates the imprint left by the carpal pad. 

Another perfect bobcat track showing all the details. This one is the right front track. you can clearly see the imprint of the carpal pad. The dewclaw is more difficult to make out, but it is there. The leading toe tells you this is the right track. The presence of the dewclaw and carpal pad tell you it is the front track. 

A nicely formed left front bobcat track in mud. The outer toes show clearly the roundish shape that helps differentiate them from dog tracks, which have a roughly triangular shape to the outer toes.

Predator and prey tracks. Bobcat track on the right, fawn track in the middle, adult deer track on the left.

Many species left their tracks in this muddy river bank. The raccoon walked across from upper right to lower left. The spotted sandpiper walked in the upper middle left. The bobcat is in the center, next to the ruler.

Cougar/mountain lion/puma tracks with bobcat tracks. The cougar is in the center. Bobcat is walking the opposite direction on left.

A perfect deer track on top of a perfect bobcat track. Predator and prey on the ground for the tracker to read!

Bobcat Track Photo Gallery

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Copyright © 2010, 2018. Text, drawings, and photos by Kim A. Cabrera

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