Animal Tracks

[FerlasDave]

Pine marten tracks are only up to 8.5cm (rear) that track looks more like 10cm+. I also think they are too long for pine marten.

Racoon tracks are a similar size to PM

Sorry I’m muddling my sentences up, I meant mine marten would be too small for the tracks. Not the tracks too small. Doh!

Whilst there’s no established numbers the data is increasing for confirmed sightings. They are prone to escaping so hopefully it’s just the odd one here and there though.

 

[William_Montgomery]

When you say Heathland , is there a noticeable water course reasonably close to the location?

There are a couple of streams running through nearby, but they aren't particularly sizeable. It's about a mile or two inland from the coast and there is a large marshland a mile or so to the north.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who found them interesting.

 

[JonathanD]

Some look like it may be badger fore and rear overlay, but the single ones rule that out. Coypu is very close, but location rules that out as I have never heard reports of those thriving in the U.K. The only other UK native would be otter, but it’s not even a close match. Which then points again to a non native as the only other option. It’s not beaver, and looks a dead ringer for raccoon. I can’t think of anything else it could be as the prints are quite clear and distinctive.

 

[Pattree]

Whatever it is I think that the metatarsal has gone down with the paw to make it look plantigrade (as in bear or human). It looks as if a fifth high claw has made an impression.

I’d like to see a left paw impressions and the distance between impressions.

So far I’ll stick with injured/sick/aged badger.

 

[Broch]

Some look like it may be badger fore and rear overlay, but the single ones rule that out. Coypu is very close, but location rules that out as I have never heard reports of those thriving in the U.K. The only other UK native would be otter, but it’s not even a close match. Which then points again to a non native as the only other option. It’s not beaver, and looks a dead ringer for raccoon. I can’t think of anything else it could be as the prints are quite clear and distinctive.

There were estimated to be 200,000 coypu in the UK at one time (mainly East Anglia); the last one was trapped in 1989

Edit: the last known one was trapped in 1989

 

[TeeDee]

There were estimated to be 200,000 coypu in the UK at one time (mainly East Anglia); the last one was trapped in 1989

Edit: the last known one was trapped in 1989

Last KNOWN one .

 

[slowworm]

SAK is about 90mm long.

No idea, but I'd be careful if it's carrying a knife....

If it's a common pet walking spot, any chance the animal was a pet on a lead? I know people who walk cats, ferrets etc on leads.

 

[Pattree]

My very first thought was Capybara then I checked where W M is located.

We had a capybara running wild very close to my home a few months back but Cinnamon is now back with her family in a local zoo and promoting capybara merchandise while the going is good.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Well, I'm pleased I'm not alone in finding it a bit of a mystery.

The size of the print, the four toes, the location and the fact that it kept to the path, to me, all point to it being a dog. They are quite long tracks, and as Broch pointed out, there looks to be some sort of deformity present.
The conclusion we came to was that it could be an ex-racing greyhound, as they can have deformed feet from their life on the track. There are a few that have been rehomed in the area and one in our village with dodgy feet.

But, by no means sure.