Footprint Friday: Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americana)

Location: The boreal forest in Alaska

Approximate size: ~11 inches, ~29cm for the set above, when looking at the below picture it is approximately 14 inches, 35.5cm between sets

Answer: Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americana). I can see how some of you might have thought moose however a) a moose footprint might have the beginning two pieces but not the back bit b) a moose's toes would not be quite so far apart. Argh! I just realized my second picture didn't show up which would have made it clearer - hmm...well, will have to get it later tonight. Sorry about that! (Edited to add: there it is! Now you have a better sense of scale)

Footprint Friday: Porcupine

Guess who?

The answer will be posted at the bottom of this post on Monday evening.

Location: north of the arctic circle on the sandy edge of the Yukon River, Alaska in summer.

Hint: these tracks are both made by the same animal. It's an animal that has a representative species on in North & South America, Europe, Asia, & Africa.

Edited to add: Goodness! What was I thinking??? Of course, Chuck, they do not exist on the continent of Australia any more then they do on Antartica. I'm going to blame it on a late night...how embarassing!! Also, for those of you thinking bear, I add an additional hint that these footprints are only slightly bigger then those of a domestic house cat.

RESULTS: Congratulations to Froghair, Doris Rose, and Vicious W on guessing correctly! It is indeed the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). The broom like markings that Jen noticed is the dragging of the quills. Did you know that there are 27 documented species of porcupine?? I actually saw these guys (i.e. the ones who made these footprints) mating...it sounded awful. Now all I need is some sort of thing like DJ Kirkby has for the best caption for her Wordless Wednesdays; some sort of prize for the correct guessers! But your names announced here will have to do for now.

Footprint Friday: Gray Wolf

Location: on a lake in northern Ontario, Canada. The forest around is decidious birch forest.

Approximate size of actual footprint (not the foot drag): 4x6inches (10x6 centimeters)

The snow is about human calf deep.

Can you guess who made these tracks?

Edited to add answer on the following Monday: Yep, this is the gray wolf or Canis lupis. Doesn't it look just like a daisy chain? Up a bit, and not in the photograph is where it caught a snowshoe hare. Wild canines, unlike their doemstic counterparts, usually travel in pretty straight lines. He, I'm thinking he because their hips are narrower then females whose back feet are usually just slightly wider then their front, was probably dragging his toes along the top of the snow causing the drag. This is common in snow but not in mud.

PS - I changed my header/ banner. What do you think?