University of Illinois Extension

Identifying the Animal Causing a Problem

Tracks

Tracks of beaver (<i>Castor canadensis</i>). Photo courtesy of Bob Bluett, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=beaver">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Beaver
Tracks of beaver (<i>Castor canadensis</i>). Photo courtesy of Bob Bluett, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=beaver">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Beaver
The two tracks on the left are dog tracks. The smaller, more oval shape track on the right is from a coyote (<i>Canis latrans</i>). Photo courtesy of Bob Bluett, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=coyote">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Coyote
Notice the size and shape of the coyote (<i>Canis latrans</i>) track on the right compared to the dog track on the left. Photo courtesy of Bob Bluett, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=coyote">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Coyote
Rabbit tracks in the snow. Photo courtesy Steve Severinghaus. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=cottontail">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Eastern Cottontail
Raccoon (<i>Procyon lotor</i>) tracks. Photo courtesy Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=raccoon">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Raccoon
Raccoon (<i>Procyon lotor</i>) tracks. Photo courtesy Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=raccoon">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Raccoon
River otter (<i>Lontra canadensis</i>) tracks. Photo courtesy of Bob Bluett, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=river_otter">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
River Otter
River otter (<i>Lontra canadensis</i>) track. Photo courtesy of Bob Bluett, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=river_otter">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
River Otter
Opossum (<i>Didelphis virginianus</i>) tracks in snow. Notice how the hind tracks overlap the front tracks. Photo courtesy of Willowbrook Wildlife Center. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=opossum">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Virginia Opossum
Virginia opossum (<i>Didelphis virginiana</i>) tracks resemble a baby's handprint. Note the lack of claw marks. Photo courtesy of Erin Knowles, University of Illinois Extension. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=opossum">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Virginia Opossum
White-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) tracks in mud. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=deer">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) tracks. Photo Courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=deer">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
White-tailed Deer
Woodchuck (<i>Marmota monax</i>) tracks. Photo courtesy of Liza Watson. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=woodchuck">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Woodchuck or "Ground Hog"
Woodchuck (<i>Marmota monax</i>) tracks. Notice the track on top has four toes (front paw) and the track on the bottom has five toes (hind paw). Photo courtesy of Liza Watson. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=woodchuck">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Woodchuck or "Ground Hog"
Identify an Animal