What made this trail?
- Thread starter ecampbell
- Start date
Interesting. The process of elimination would have me thinking otter. Are there paw prints near the slide marks? The pic is a little too far away to tell. Scott might know, he is always tracking down some furry critter.
Jeff
Jeff
There is one print that is fairly clear just where the snow cover begins. After blowiing that area up a bit, and along with the apparent tail drag, sure looks like beaver. Any idea on the size of the track?
The slide mark was about 8 to 10 inches wide, probably more on the 8 inch side. What first came to mind is how walruses move on land (or ice). I thought otter and beaver would walk and just leave a tail drag.
I can't say for certain, but I think otter occasionally slide on ice and snow (on their bellies). Although, I think this is usually when going down hill. I just say this because I've seen them do this on nature programs. I've never witnessed it.
Jeff
It also looks like a boot print within each drag mark,Take a real close look,especially at the close up!
I vote otter.
They will do their slide even across a flat surface from what I have read.
I have seen and photographed otter slides on grassed slopes adjoining bogs and it is an amazing phenomenon.
Otters are animals that appear to do things to purely to have fun, which is out of the normal range of activity for a lot of aninmals. Most wildlife behavior is related to survival, courtship and reproduction.
I have read a lot about the otter and they are apparently doing very well in most of their range.
They will do their slide even across a flat surface from what I have read.
I have seen and photographed otter slides on grassed slopes adjoining bogs and it is an amazing phenomenon.
Otters are animals that appear to do things to purely to have fun, which is out of the normal range of activity for a lot of aninmals. Most wildlife behavior is related to survival, courtship and reproduction.
I have read a lot about the otter and they are apparently doing very well in most of their range.
This article from the Montana Trappers association says that they often lope and then slide as they travel.
http://www.montanatrappers.org/furbearers/river-otter1.htm
This article talks about the sliding and its uniqueness.
http://www.otternet.com/ROA/Fall1999/otterslides.htm
The fish scales are regurgitated. In my trip post on dead stuff from last Sunday I posted a pic of scale piles in front of a burrow in the side of a dike.
http://www.montanatrappers.org/furbearers/river-otter1.htm
This article talks about the sliding and its uniqueness.
http://www.otternet.com/ROA/Fall1999/otterslides.htm
The fish scales are regurgitated. In my trip post on dead stuff from last Sunday I posted a pic of scale piles in front of a burrow in the side of a dike.