Animal tracking offers insights into wildlife, even when animals are unseen. Observing signs like tracks, scat, and other markings helps piece together a picture of local fauna. This practice engages enthusiasts and contributes to understanding animal behavior and conservation. Learning to identify specific animal signs, such as moose tracks, enhances our connection with the natural world.
Moose Track Appearance
Moose tracks are large and distinctive, reflecting the animal’s substantial size as the largest member of the deer family. A typical moose track measures about 4.5 to 7 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. The tracks are characterized by a two-toed, cloven hoof print, often described as heart-shaped or teardrop-shaped, with the pointed end facing the direction of travel.
Moose hooves are designed to splay, especially on soft ground like mud or snow. This increases the surface area and helps distribute their weight, preventing them from sinking deeply. A moose track may also show impressions from dewclaws. These two smaller digits are located higher on the back of the leg and register in deeper substrates or when the animal moves rapidly.
Differentiating Moose Tracks
Distinguishing moose tracks from other large ungulates requires attention to details. Moose tracks are significantly larger than deer tracks, which typically measure between 1.6 to 3.5 inches long. While both can be heart or teardrop-shaped, the size difference is a primary indicator.
Elk tracks, though closer in size, are generally smaller than moose tracks, measuring around 3 to 4 inches long and wide. They tend to be more elongated or oval-shaped, unlike the distinctly pointed or heart shape of a moose track. The splay of a moose’s hooves is also more pronounced than an elk’s, particularly on soft ground. Domestic cattle tracks are typically more rounded and less pointed than moose tracks.
Beyond the Track: Other Clues
Beyond the track, other signs can help confirm a moose’s presence. The animal’s gait often leaves a specific pattern; moose have long strides, typically ranging from 30 to 54 inches. While they can exhibit a “direct register” walk where the hind foot lands directly on the front print, their large size often results in a more “sloppy” trail pattern compared to deer.
Moose scat offers another clue. During winter, it consists of oval pellets, about 1 to 1.5 inches long, often with a hard texture. In warmer months, or depending on diet, scat can be softer and more amorphous, sometimes resembling a cow patty. Moose are browsers, primarily eating twigs, bark, and leaves. They lack upper incisors, so their browsing leaves ragged, torn ends on twigs. They may also strip bark from trees by scraping upwards with their lower incisors, leaving distinctive marks.
Rub marks on trees, particularly by bull moose during the rutting season, are another indicator. These marks, often on smaller trees, result from the moose rubbing its antlers, face, or neck against the trunk, sometimes leaving hair or scent. These signs provide a comprehensive picture of moose activity in an area.