It's not "bigfoot".....but it's definitely a BIG foot!

[snoluver1]

Found this print right next to my driveway in northern IL. This print is approximately twice the size of my black lab's prints that are in the same mud puddle. At first I thought maybe she was running or hopping and the down-pressure caused her print to spread. So I grabed her paw and forced it to spread out to compare. The glove don't fit! My closest neighbors are about a half mile away, and their dogs gave birth to my dog so I know it's not them either. I don't know of any large dogs anywhere in my local vicinity that could have made this print.

Could this possibly be a wolf print? A coyote print would be much smaller, correct? There have been sittings of a cougar in my area, but unless it was walking with its claws extended, that doesn't seam to fit the bill either. Any ideas?

 

[gary_in_neenah]

Your picture/attachment won't load. Prompt says Invalid Attachment.

 

[dawolf]

I saw a couple reports in late March of a wolf near Rockford. Might be the same one. I think someone posted a pic on Rockford Scanner.

 

[snoluver1]

Your picture/attachment won't load. Prompt says Invalid Attachment.

I think I fixed it?

 

[frnash]

Werewolf!
(That's right up there with Bigfeets! )

 

[byr 13]

yep wolf

 

[snobuilder]

I aint no expert but k9 prints are really more triangular with the center of the paw ahead of the rest of the paw print much like your hand... the claw impressions are definitely doglike
.Is that sod ? Weird ...ground looks too stiff/ dry for such an impression.

 

[old abe]

It is very possible. My riding bud has a large German Shepherd, and he has very large prints also. If it is a lone wolf, it won't stay in one area long. They tend to stay on the move.

 

[snoluver1]

I aint no expert but k9 prints are really more triangular with the center of the paw ahead of the rest of the paw print much like your hand... the claw impressions are definitely doglike
.Is that sod ? Weird ...ground looks too stiff/ dry for such an impression.

It's a recently dried up mud puddle next to my driveway. A scalping from plowing snow. (The one time I actually had to plow this year!)The grass hasn't taken hold yet because its been too wet. The print was made last night. We have been dry for the last 2 days, but like 3-4" of rain in the days previous. The base is a mixture of clay and gravel right in that spot, and it is fairly stiff. What ever made this impression was either very heavy or landing from a jump!

 

[snoluver1]

I should add, the picture might be a little deceiving as far as how wet it is. It's only the top layer that is dried out. This is an area where water pools and carries in silt. Its that type of mud that's slicker than snot, but isn't very deep. There is mixed in gravel underneath.

 

[snobuilder]

That makes sense. Lots of rain in the midwest lately.
You defiantly got a good print.

 

[srt20]

thats a dog and not a lab

 

[snoluver1]

thats a dog and not a lab

Is there a way to definitively identify a dog vs a wolf? I just talked to a neighbor about 5 miles away who swears he saw a large white wolf a couple weeks ago. I know with certainty this was not made by my lab, but there are no large dogs anywhere close to me. I'm not ruling out a stray, just curious if there is a sure fire "tell".

 

[longtrack]

I heard Trump was planting Wolves in Chicago, to fix the mess.

 

[old abe]

I aint no expert but k9 prints are really more triangular with the center of the paw ahead of the rest of the paw print much like your hand... the claw impressions are definitely doglike
.Is that sod ? Weird ...ground looks too stiff/ dry for such an impression.

I agree totally with snobuilder as to the circular toe/claw pattern. Toe/claw pattern of dogs generally more pointed (center 2 toes) towards the front of foot. But with the soil/condition you described, it could be very deceiving.

 

[snoluver1]

I agree totally with snobuilder as to the circular toe/claw pattern. Toe/claw pattern of dogs generally more pointed (center 2 toes) towards the front of foot. But with the soil/condition you described, it could be very deceiving.

I did some research on different prints and I agree, the roundness is kind of throwing me off. I'm starting to wonder if it is actually a cougar print with claws out. Some of the info I read suggested a dog print would have seperation between toe and claw where a cougar would have no seperation. You can see in the print there is no seperation of the claw and they almost look like they sliced into the mud. (Look at the far right claw mark) The main pad print seams more dog like than cougar, however.

 

[old abe]

I did some research on different prints and I agree, the roundness is kind of throwing me off. I'm starting to wonder if it is actually a cougar print with claws out. Some of the info I read suggested a dog print would have seperation between toe and claw where a cougar would have no seperation. You can see in the print there is no seperation of the claw and they almost look like they sliced into the mud. (Look at the far right claw mark) The main pad print seams more dog like than cougar, however.

Cougar could also be possible with the "round" print??? And the big cats have a large paw print. Need to get "Tracker" in on this???

 

[G]

Timber.

 

[snoluver1]

I saw a couple reports in late March of a wolf near Rockford. Might be the same one. I think someone posted a pic on Rockford Scanner.

Found the pic on rockford scanner. Looks consistent with my buddy's description of the one he saw off Flat Iron road in Harvard. I guess we have some new neighbors moving in!

 

[snobuilder]

Found the pic on rockford scanner. Looks consistent with my buddy's description of the one he saw off Flat Iron road in Harvard. I guess we have some new neighbors moving in!

View attachment 56808

Finding it hilarious that this pic is way more clear than any bigfoots pic ever taken....ever.