Badger?!

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Turnstone

Full Member
Apr 9, 2013
311
20
Germany
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?

badgertrack_0001.jpg


badgertrack_0002.jpg

(What's this bug?)

badgertrack_0003.jpg


badgertrack_0004.jpg


badgertrack_0005.jpg


badgertrack_0006.jpg


badgertrack_0007.jpg

(I guess here are two tracks almost registering)
 
Last edited:

Buckshot

Mod
Mod
Jan 19, 2004
6,466
349
Oxford
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

Full Member
Apr 9, 2013
311
20
Germany
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

Full Member
Jan 29, 2007
2,692
3
65
Powys
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

Banned
Jun 26, 2008
3,882
8
Dorset
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

Full Member
Apr 9, 2013
311
20
Germany
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

Mod
Mod
Jan 19, 2004
6,466
349
Oxford
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
 

Harvestman

Bushcrafter through and through
May 11, 2007
8,656
26
55
Pontypool, Wales, Uk
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.
 

Harvestman

Bushcrafter through and through
May 11, 2007
8,656
26
55
Pontypool, Wales, Uk
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.
 

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