Badger?!

[Turnstone]

Last weekend I found this tracks. I normally only find deer and dog tracks, but this one looked different. Could it be a badger track?! There are no other signs of badgers in that area, and I don't know if there are any badgers around (never seen one, heard about it or saw a track or hole). But comparing it to the drawings in my books it might be one. The tracks were not fresh, and I hope you can see them well enough on my pictures. What do you think?

(What's this bug?)

(I guess here are two tracks almost registering)

 

[Buckshot]

If that ruler is CM's then I think it might be a little small for badger
I would expect a badger track to be around 4-5cms or so plus claws

What sort of gait/ length of stride etc?

 

[Turnstone]

The length of the stride (I hope I measured that right) was 42 cm. The distance between right and left foot were about 10 cm. There were no claws, but the tracks are about 5 cm wide.
I am not sure about gait (still a beginner, and there were only a few tracks), but I guess it was walking.

 

[treadlightly]

The third picture, which shows what might be claw marks in the front, looks the most badger-like IMHO, but it's difficult to say for sure.

 

[Bushwhacker]

The gait looks more like a canine trotting gait. First look at the prints and I thought two sets of very old deer slots, but there's a pad too. I would say dog. I'll have a proper study of it on a big screen later on. On the hop at the moment.

 

[Turnstone]

The gait looks more like a canine trotting gait. First look at the prints and I thought two sets of very old deer slots, but there's a pad too. I would say dog. I'll have a proper study of it on a big screen later on. On the hop at the moment.

Thanks! No need to hurry, I am away for the weekend for a family wedding anyway...

 

[Buckshot]

The gait looks more like a canine trotting gait. First look at the prints and I thought two sets of very old deer slots, but there's a pad too. I would say dog. I'll have a proper study of it on a big screen later on. On the hop at the moment.

I saw deer there too, but then there's the extra pad as you say
Difficult to see on screen

 

[mark stotesbury]

love the pics very helpful in future make yourself a tracking stick very good for tracking animals over rocky/difficult terrain also handy to get a accurate stride idea .

 

[Rychard]

Just looked up your bettle looks like a soldier beetles
Cantharis Lucida hope this helps

 

[Harvestman]

I agree with Rychard. That's a soldier beetle, Cantharis sp. there are 15species in the UK and not easy to distinguish them, but maybe C. rufus, because of the all black legs.

No idea on the tracks.

 

[General Strike]

That black spot (partially obscured by glinting light) on the pronotum makes me think C. rustica - C. rufa has golden-ish, downy-looking elytra.

 

[Harvestman]

Could be. I'm guessing, and happy to say so. We all agree Cantharis sp though? I've no real knowledge of the group apart from knowing a soldier beetle when I see one.

 

[Ronnie]

I think you might be right about the badger ID, nice broad prints

 

[Rychard]

To be honest found it in a book
Wildlife of Britain from the RSPCA good book not one for the rucksack

 

[Poacher]

Jesus dude, looks like CSI have been there!!
I would say to me it looks like a clear badger print. We have lots here and thats what i put my money on.