Wolf Tracks & Sign
by Filip Tkaczyk
Wolf tracks and sign can be found in only certain wilderness regions of North America. Although they are highly adaptable, they have been heavily persecuted for hundreds of years and are now limited to specific wilderness areas, especially in the lower 48 United States. Wolves eat a wide variety of things including fruits, reptiles, amphibians, ground birds, small –to –medium mammals and large ungulates.
Tracks: Wolf tracks are large, relatively symmetrical. The tracks generally show 4 toes on both fronts and hinds. Wolves - like other canines – have 5 toes on their front feet. However, the 5th toe is small and higher up on the foot and usually does not register in the track. Each toe has a nail that generally registers in the track. Wolf tracks are generally so large, that they would be confused only with the largest breed of dogs. Wolves, however, tend to travel in very efficient, fairly straight paths through the landscape. Their tracks are also found in rather remote wilderness areas, not often traveled by very large domestic dogs. (Photo below by Mike Taras.)
Fronts are 3 3/4” – 5 3/4” long by 2 7/8” – 5” wide.
The negative space between the toes and the heel pad forms an H.
Rears are 3 3/4” – 5 1/4” long by 2 5/8” – 4 1/2” wide.
The negative space between the toes and the heel pad forms an X. Overall, hinds are narrower and more oval shape than the front.
Gaits: Wolves are built to travel long distances. They most often travel in a trot (equivalent to a human jog), either a side trot or a direct register trot. Wolves can also walk, lope and gallop. They will use different gaits according to their needs and direct register trot for a wolf is between 22”-34” long and for a side trot it is 26”-39” long. The large feet and long legs make them well adapted to snowy conditions. (Photo below by Mike Taras.)
Scat: Wolf scat is often large, ropey and tapered on one or both ends. These more typical scats are often composed of fur, bones, hide and meat. A scat made of all meat and internal organs can be rather amorphous in shape. Wolf scat can vary widely in length, from 6-17” long. In diameter, it tends to be between 1/2” to 1 7/8” wide. Like other canines, wolves use scat to mark territories and communicate to fellow wolves and other species about their presence, status, health and much more.
Other Sign: Wolves leave a variety of other sign behind. One of the most obvious is the remains found at kill sites of large ungulates. Wolves have very powerful jaws, with a bite force of up to 1,500 pounds per square inch. This is even more powerful than they bite strength of a spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Africa. This allows wolves to effectively bite through even the largest bones such as major leg bones of big ungulates like elk and moose. Notice how in this photo the leg bone of this elk was cleanly broken off and the marrow within it consumed. Bone fragments are common at wolf kill sites and wolves do consume some bones.
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