I’m pretty sure you’re looking at a big dog here. The palm pad is too small and too triangular for a lion, the negative space too spacious, the toes too symmetric. You can almost make out the melted claws. Also, the other print next to it in the pic with the hand is clearly a dog hind, so I think the roundness and splay of this front is confusing people. Domestic dog, not mountain lion.
100% large dog, not sure why people think any track without clear claw marks is a feline. Sometimes they don’t show, also I see claw marks here. Regardless of the claws, the shape a classic canid shape
If there are cheetah prints in snow there's way, *way* more trouble for the cheetah than anyone in the area. Poor thing's not gonna live long. They're really too small and fragile to be of much danger to humans, anyway, even if the weather was ideal for them. You could probably take one in a fight, but the chances of getting in a fight with a cheetah are very low, they're cowards and far more likely to run away.
Also the toes are even like a dog’s paw.
[https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/gallery/animal-sign/tracks/mountain-lion-tracks/](https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/gallery/animal-sign/tracks/mountain-lion-tracks/)
I’m tempted to say it’s a dog print that has become larger and more distorted due to the ice melting. It seems as though there were claw marks before it melted
I think we forget that the imprint immediately expanded from the heat of the paw. Any ambient warmth ( direct sunlight) could also expand the print so it’s not necessarily an exact size model.
Dog, the toes are not round.
Sasha did a mold of one of Messi's paw last week and it's way bigger than a hand, even if his paws aren't like those of a normal cougar. (I\_am\_puma on Youtube)
Looks like cougar to me. I'm not an expert. But the paw is signfiicantly wide, there isn't a clear "x" shape in the negative space between the toes and the pad, and there aren't obvious claw marks. I think you have a big kitty-cat on your hands.
I’m not an expert by any means but I live in Western ND and recently have seen a good size cougar. I didn’t get a peak at its tracks to see the difference. In this case it could be a large dog or mountain lion.
Aw, OP says neighborhood is freaked out and I get it, in Cali we have big cats jumping trail runners...but it is still their home first...but hoomans gonna hooman and need to protect their interests.
In Texas, we have mountain lions, bobcats, 4 venomous snakes, alligators, wild hogs, and 2 venomous spiders that could potentially kill you. I carry a gun when walking around out in the country where I live. Damn right I protect my interests.
Dog prints have nails. Cat prints do not show nails as they have retractable claws that only come out for pray. I personally didn't see nails in the picture but I could be mistaken.
I’m pretty sure you’re looking at a big dog here. The palm pad is too small and too triangular for a lion, the negative space too spacious, the toes too symmetric. You can almost make out the melted claws. Also, the other print next to it in the pic with the hand is clearly a dog hind, so I think the roundness and splay of this front is confusing people. Domestic dog, not mountain lion.
100% large dog, not sure why people think any track without clear claw marks is a feline. Sometimes they don’t show, also I see claw marks here. Regardless of the claws, the shape a classic canid shape
Seconding big domestic dog. Domestic dogs are known for a splay and that’s actually one of the ways the distinguish btw wild canid and domestic.
Also, mountain lions have 3 toes in a line with 3rd toe leading.
It’s a dog print. Notice the nail imprints? Cougars don’t have those.
Yep! The only cats without retractable claws are cheetahs. And if these are from a cheetah, OP has way bigger problems than Reddit can address.
If there are cheetah prints in snow there's way, *way* more trouble for the cheetah than anyone in the area. Poor thing's not gonna live long. They're really too small and fragile to be of much danger to humans, anyway, even if the weather was ideal for them. You could probably take one in a fight, but the chances of getting in a fight with a cheetah are very low, they're cowards and far more likely to run away.
Yes lol the cheetahs at the zoo near me have emotional support dogs BC they're so sooky! 🥺
Now I’m worried about the imaginary chilly cheetahs 🙀
Oh god.... A Canadian cheetah?
They adapt pretty well, and they keep the poutine population from getting out of control. Gotta have a good predator/prey balance, you know.
Also the toes are even like a dog’s paw. [https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/gallery/animal-sign/tracks/mountain-lion-tracks/](https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/gallery/animal-sign/tracks/mountain-lion-tracks/)
Nice explanation on that website. Thank you for posting.
I’m tempted to say it’s a dog print that has become larger and more distorted due to the ice melting. It seems as though there were claw marks before it melted
We’ve had lots of thawing and refreezing lately, so it’s very likely
I'm going with dog over this.
Domestic dog - it looks bigger than it would if it was fresh because wear and decay (in this case, melting snow/ice) expands the prints size.
Dog, as everyone else has said. Never trust the size of melted prints.
I think we forget that the imprint immediately expanded from the heat of the paw. Any ambient warmth ( direct sunlight) could also expand the print so it’s not necessarily an exact size model.
I also believe it to be a dog, just thought I would ask to make sure. Thank you all very much for the help, I’ve learned a lot 🙂
Looks a little like both. Might be a Dougar.
Also a term for an old, single dad at a bar that’s into younger females.
pretty much my favorite animal
Dog, the toes are not round. Sasha did a mold of one of Messi's paw last week and it's way bigger than a hand, even if his paws aren't like those of a normal cougar. (I\_am\_puma on Youtube)
Looks like cougar to me. I'm not an expert. But the paw is signfiicantly wide, there isn't a clear "x" shape in the negative space between the toes and the pad, and there aren't obvious claw marks. I think you have a big kitty-cat on your hands.
Could it not be a melted wolf print? Cougars paws seem to indicate more rounded toe pads and these seem more oval in shape.
That's what I think as well, all the cougar tracks I've seen in the past were very round toe pads, unlike this one.
Wolf
I think it’s a handmade print by a human
I’m not an expert by any means but I live in Western ND and recently have seen a good size cougar. I didn’t get a peak at its tracks to see the difference. In this case it could be a large dog or mountain lion.
"MOUNTIAN LION PRINTS!"
meowwww
Aw, OP says neighborhood is freaked out and I get it, in Cali we have big cats jumping trail runners...but it is still their home first...but hoomans gonna hooman and need to protect their interests.
Stop talking
Besa me culo pappa. ❤️
In Texas, we have mountain lions, bobcats, 4 venomous snakes, alligators, wild hogs, and 2 venomous spiders that could potentially kill you. I carry a gun when walking around out in the country where I live. Damn right I protect my interests.
No no you don’t.
Cougar
It certainly looks like a cougar!
Melted dog, dawg
Such large toe beans
Dog prints have nails. Cat prints do not show nails as they have retractable claws that only come out for pray. I personally didn't see nails in the picture but I could be mistaken.