Squirrel tracks are among the most frequently observed signposts, as these rodents are active during the day and thrive in suburban environments. Learning to identify their unique footprints and movement patterns transforms a simple walk into an engaging exercise in wildlife observation. This guide offers clear specifics to confidently distinguish the tracks of a common backyard squirrel.
Anatomy of the Individual Footprint
The most defining feature of a squirrel’s print is the difference in the number of visible toes between the fore and hind feet. The smaller front feet, which are used primarily for grasping and manipulating food, consistently show four narrow, elongated toe marks. In contrast, the larger hind feet, which provide propulsion for movement, register five distinct, finger-like toes.
The front prints are generally about one inch long and wide. Hind prints are notably longer, sometimes reaching up to two or two-and-a-quarter inches in length. The impression of the heel pad is rarely visible unless the substrate, such as mud or soft snow, is perfectly pliable. A clear track will often display sharp, distinct claw marks extending forward from the toe pads, a testament to the squirrel’s tree-climbing adaptations.
The Distinctive Bounding Pattern
The squirrel’s most reliable identifying characteristic is the overall arrangement of four prints, known as the bounding gait. When moving quickly, the squirrel propels itself forward by placing its smaller front feet on the ground first, typically side-by-side. The larger hind feet then swing forward, landing ahead of where the front feet touched down as the animal pushes off for the next leap.
This “leapfrog” motion creates a recognizable track pattern that forms a blocky, squarish, or trapezoidal cluster. The two larger hind prints mark the front of the cluster, and the two smaller front prints are positioned just behind them. The distance between these repeating clusters, or the stride, can range widely from one to three feet, depending on the speed of the animal. The track pattern is often best seen in fresh snow, fine sand, or soft mud, and the prints will frequently lead directly to the base of a tree.
How to Differentiate Squirrel Tracks from Other Small Mammals
Identifying squirrel tracks requires comparison with the prints left by other small, bounding creatures, such as rabbits, chipmunks, and mice. The most significant difference from mice and voles is the near-total absence of a tail drag mark in the squirrel’s trail, a common feature in the tracks of many smaller rodents moving through snow. Mouse prints are also considerably smaller than the squirrel’s front tracks.
Chipmunks share the same 4/5 toe count but leave prints that are noticeably smaller than a squirrel’s, and their overall gait pattern appears tighter. Differentiating squirrel tracks from rabbit tracks is simpler by examining the track arrangement and print detail. A rabbit’s track pattern forms a tall, thin rectangle or triangle, whereas the squirrel’s pattern is much wider and more blocky. Rabbit feet are covered in fur, which often results in less defined toe marks compared to the squirrel’s distinct, finger-like toe impressions.