Hello all,
I'm having a disagreement with a state wildlife biologist about the tracks in the uploaded pictures. He's probably right, but he won't explain to me why I'm wrong, so I'd like any other opinions I can get. These were taken in my yard the morning of 2/14/22, in north central CT. They were made the night before in snow that was 24 hours old. Let me know if you need more information to offer an opinion. I won't give mine and the biologist's until I've collected some of yours. Thanks for any help you can offer. I have more photos I can post if anyone wants. And I put my trail camera out after my second email exchange with biologist.

Fisher tracks IMO.

Not sure but It looks like It's draging something.

That's interesting--I figured that was a tail, but it stays on the same side! So that's a vote for maybe predator. No blood anywhere though. Thanks!

Thanks!

Fisher

Thanks! And I like your President!

Fisher or otter. Hard to tell the difference between the two sometimes from pictures. Fisher have hair between their toes.

I actually tracked a fisher right to my trap last week, 1 to 2" of snow. I was going to say your pattern is different, then looked this up. Mine was walking with a near perfect staggered pattern.
The alternating walk. Mine did not pick his feet up very high, I think he drug them all.
Interesting, thanks for posting.
I say fisher too, wouldn't an otter drag his tail more ?

Thanks! We do have otter in town, but my house is a couple miles away uphill from the river and on the other side of the state road. These tracks traversed about 30 yards across snow and didn't show any of the extensive sliding I've always seen from otter before. It's funny you posted those pictures-- the wildlife biologist I'm arguing with about these tracks sent me the same pictures!

Thanks!

Getting to be quite a few fisher in Connecticut. I hunt deer down there.

We're getting covered up with bobcats around here too. I see more of them than I do bear, and this town is known for a lot of bear sightings.

It's not a otter.

Agreed.

100% fisher

I agree. I sent the photos to the CT DEEP Wildlife Division as a fisher sighting. Their wildlife biologist told me he was 100% sure they were coon tracks. I raised all kinds of issues with that opinion and sent more photos of that same set of tracks, but he stuck to his guns, so I brought them here to the court of appeals. Not disappointed so far!

Coon track.

I'm familiar with raccoon tracks in the snow as you can see from these light coon trails we have. Those ain't it....