Thursday, March 7, 2013

Can You Identify These Animal Tracks?

Because I have been having a problem with some unidentified animal chomping on my treasured Hellebores (see Devastation in the Garden) I need some help figuring out which critter it might be. We just had some snow...and when I took pictures this morning, I discovered some tracks that I'm not familiar with. I don't think they are squirrel tracks...because they are not all over the yard. There are lots of other tracks all over the yard, which are probably squirrels...because I DO have LOTS of squirrels here. But these tracks are only in a few areas and they stand out. What could they be? Raccoons? Rats? I've been doing some google-searches but still could use some help. I am thinking about taking down the birdfeeders. I'm thinking whatever it is that is coming in here at night and destroying my Hellebores is a) nocturnal and b) interested in the seeds. Here are the photos:










I also covered my Hellebores with some metal hanging plant baskets, and surrounded a couple with some small trellises that I have stored in the garage. Here are some photos of what they look like until I can figure out what else to do about this problem:












As you can see, there are tracks all over the entire backyard. Some are mine, some are from the dogs (who only go outside to go potty several times a day so they are not the culprits because I am always with them), some are from squirrels. The mystery tracks are what I would like to resolve. Can you help me?


Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/
Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

32 comments:

  1. My first thought is raccoons. I'm more used to tracks around my chicken coop, though, not my hellebores!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Linda! I know...who automatically associates Hellebores with raccoons?!?!

      Delete
  2. I'm almost certain those are raccoon tracks. There are a couple there that look like tiny hands, that is indicative. You mentioned that you had a fence, take a look at it to see if there are any muddy tracks on it from climbing. My fence is covered in all the spots where they climb in and out of my garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alison. After your, and others, comments on facebook, I do believe it is raccoons. I went out and looked all over the fence... on both sides of it...but do not see tracks on it, although there are a lot of rub marks (probably from deer) and lots of chewing and gouging going on. Not sure what animal has been doing that. Maybe I should put in an electric fence next?!? Oh boy, managing this is just one more pain in the butt that we gardeners have to deal with. And I do know you've had to deal with those nuisances in your own yard. So now we can commiserate together... :(

      Delete
  3. Looks like racoon to me too, but this may help , stops my deer:
    http://tammyinwv.blogspot.com/search/label/Milorganite

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw that in one of your last comments about the deer. But I don't know whether it would work for raccoons, are there studies where it's worked for other than deer. Would be interested to know...

      Delete
  4. Jan i havent looked for any research on anything other than deer. They have been my only problem. I immediately thought of them when you mentioned rub marks to Alison above.Check out this link: http://www.ontariowildflower.com/wildlife_tracks.htm
    They kinda look like the raccoon tracks. I did a quick search and didnt really find much info on Mil. and raccoons. The post below says they used it for raccoons with success, also they mention contacting animal control who will let you borrow a trap to relocate.
    http://www.lawnsite.com/archive/index.php/t-222813.html
    tammy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks like raccoon to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your feedback, Jason! I'm beginning to think it might be raccoons :) LOL

      Delete
  6. As soon as I saw them they said raccoon...those devils.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My vote is for raccoons as well! Wittle wascals!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jayne. They are wascals...for sure!

      Delete
  8. I'm actually going to differ. A couple of your photos (like the 2nd one down, bottom left side of the image) show a more "thumb-like" appendage in the footprint that is much more characteristic of the Virginia opossum. Their tracks can look a little different, depending on how fast they're walking, but that lower set digit really makes me suspicious. The silhouette footprint on this page will give you an idea what I'm talking about: http://icwdm.org/handbook/mammals/opossums.asp If you hold your hand out in front of you, with your thumb and index finger making more of an l-shape, that's sort of how their feet look. It's difficult to say for certain, with the snow melting around the tracks, but that's my best guess :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly could be a opossum as well, Claire...I haven't totally ruled that out! We have had opossums here before...both on our front steps and on our back deck...so it isn't out of the question and I can't deny the possibility that they are responsible for my hellebore damage. I just don't know. However, no matter WHAT it is...I've decided to remove the bird feeders at night and see if that helps things. I still put them out in the day time...the squirrels get the remnants on the ground. No matter what critter it is...if the feeders are not here at night, hopefully that will help them stay away. Thanks for your observations!!

      Delete
  9. Jan,
    Raccoon, opossum, and skunk all eat the same things and have somewhat similar footprints. Based on the appearance of a "thumb?", that would rule out skunk I think. Isn't wildlife wonderful :-) well...most of the time.
    Ray

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do enjoy wildlife, Ray...mostly from a distance :) I'm not crazy about them messing up/destroying my treasured plants, that's all. It's tough to share real estate with them ;)

      Delete
  10. Looks like a unanimous vote for raccoon. Love the bowl shaped hanging basket over the Hellebores in the first photo of protection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Janet...I'm going with raccoon, too. I've been taking the birdfeeders down at night and so far don't think it has returned; if it has, it hasn't done any further damage, at least!

      Delete
  11. Yes, I agree, they look like raccoon tracks. It was raccoons that Michael Pollan described in "Second Nature" as "looking like the work of the Manson Family." Not a welcome visitor to the garden. -Jean

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jean, I love how you shared Michael Pollan's portrayal of the crime scene! Sounds about right ;) At this point in time, I think the critter has retreated but it's hard to be sure. I still have the hellebores covered and take the bird feeders down at night. Will be an interesting spring...!

      Delete
  12. Daniel Boone I'm not but it is an interesting mystery. Though I live in a woods my onehundred pound GSD chases away another smaller than a bear....:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With 2 mini-dachshunds and a poodle, all critters would eat MY dogs so they are of NO help to me around here! I just have to continue to share my yard with wildlife, and hope they will respect and admire it, rather than destroy and trash it. Probably isn't gonna happen, though :)

      Delete
  13. I wish I knew, Jan. They look exactly like the squirrel tracks I see in the snow, but I am sure they could be skunk or possum or raccoon, too. I hope you figure out what it is. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I sure hope you get this figured out, but I do love your creative covers. Wire plant pots are fairly decorative!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I agree with Sage. They look like raccoon tracks to me. Just when we find a plant the deer don't like someone else comes along and eats it instead!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The photos of the plants that little critter chomped on made me gasp! It can be so frustrating living and gardening in the country.

    I just took some photos of beautiful doe out front and I hate to think of the damage they will create this spring.

    Love your blog Jan! Happy Spring!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I see most people think the tracks are from raccoons, which was my first guess, but I also wondered if it could be from an opossum. We've had both in our yard. In fact, when I was taking a break from garden clean up on the one nice day we had recently, sitting on the bench in the front yard, I saw a raccoon walking across the street, into a neighbor's back yard.

    I like your use of the hanging baskets and such. Yours are prettier than the ones I use to protect some of my plants from the rabbits.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The tracks seems to be from the raccoons. And they have certainly ruined your precious plants.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Looks like raccoons to me, too! I have no idea why they're going after your hellebores! After dinner toothbrush? Not funny, I know, but this is quite the mystery!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Well, every single track is a squirrel. There are no racoon tracks there or possum. If you look closely, squirrels have four toes in front and five in back. They move in a gallop hopping type pattern. The front feet are like little hands but unlike the raccoon which has five fingers and toes, the pictures show only four over and over again. The back feet are bigger on squirrels and yes, do have five toes. But the key is those five toes have a very distinct pattern. The middle toes are all in a line. That is characteristics of all rodents. With raccoon, they are spread out, like your hand. They don't ever line up like that. They are more star-like. So it was the squirrels all along. So you know. :-)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Post Topics

17 year Cicadas...Enough Already! 2011 Official Post 2012 4th of July collage 5-lined skink A Certain Kind of Light A Cozy Fire A Dusting of Snow A Family Meal A Hawkish Tale A Little Bit of Winter A Visit From Miss Glad on Blooming Friday A Visit With The Queen A Warm Cup of Tea Acorns African Violets African Violets:Kitty Style Agastache Allium Am I too late for GBBD Amaryllis Amazing Zinnias American Beautyberry American Hazelnut American Lady American Robin Anemone Anenome Anglewings Anise Hyssop Another Birthday aphids April 2010 April blooms Arbor Day Are Words Really Necessary? Artemesia Asarum Asclepias Asiatic lilies Aster Aster Yellows Audubon-at-Home August 2009 GBBD August 2013 Autumn Autumn Reflections Awards Awesome Azaleas Azalea on Ice;Picture This Photo Contest;Winter's Beauty Azaleas Azealea Back Yard Backyard Bird Series backyard birds Backyard Makeover Bald Eagles Balloon Flower Bee Collage Bee-Balm Bees Bees Busily Buzzing on Blooms Before and After Being Settled berries Big Eyes Bird Collage Bird Conversations Bird Itch Birdfeeding Birds Birds Before Blooms Birthday Books Black Swallowtail Black Swallowtail Butterflies Black Swallowtail butterfly cats Blackeyed Susan Bleeding Heart Blog Anniversary Blogger blogging blogging friends Blogiversary Blooming Friday Blotanical Blotanical awards Blotanical's 2009 Best Virginia Award Blue Blooms Bluebeard Bluebird Bluebird Fledglings Bluebird in Snow Botanical Interests Boulder Bouquet of the Month:April 2010 Bouquet of the Month:March 2010 Bright Flowers broad-winged damselfly Brown Creeper Brunnera Buddleia Bugbane Bulbs BulbsSproutinginPot Bumblebees Butterflies BUTTERFLIES LIVE Butterfly on Salvia Butterfly weed Calorie-Free Candy Camera-less in April Can You Guess What This Is? Can You Please Identify Me Can't Get Enough Cosmos Cancer Experience Cardinal Cardinal (Female) Cardinal (Male) Cardinal Flower Carolina Wren Carolyn's Shade Gardens Carpenter Bees Carpet Rose Caryopteris Caryopteris x clandonensis Catmint Cedar Waxwing CedarWaxwing celandine poppy Celebrate Your Freedom Cercis canadensis Certified Wildlife Sanctuary Chelone Cherry Blossoms Chickadee Chris McLaughlin Christmas Fern Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Cicada's Ahead of Schedule Cicada's May 2009 Cicadas May 2013 Cinquefoil Clematis CobraHead Collage Collages Columbine Common Buckeye Common Whitetail dragonfly Composter Coneflower Containers Cooper's Hawk Coral Red Honeysuckle Coreopsis Corona Corydalis Cosmos Covered Hellebore Plants Cozy and Warm Cranberrybush Vibernum Crepe Myrtle Crested Iris Crocus Crocus 'Romance' Crow Cut Flowers From My Garden Cutleaved Coneflower Daffodil Daffodils dainty blue flowers Dayflower Daylilies December 2010 December Birds Deer Poop Desert Island Plant Challenge Desperate for Color on Bloom Day Devastation in the Garden Devotion Dicentra Digitalis purpurea Does This Outfit Make Me Look Fat? Dogs Dragonflies Dragonfly or Damselfly Dried Blooms ducklings Dutchman's Breeches Dwarf Nandina Dwarf Sumac e-Bird e.e.cummings e.e.cummings:i thank You God for most this amazing Earth Day Eastern Bluebird Eastern Comma butterfly Eastern Redbud Eastern Tiger Swallowtail eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Ebony Jewelwing Echinacea Elderberry Emily Dickinson End of the Line Epimedium Euphorbia Evening Primrose facebook Faith Fall Color Project Feasting on Seeds Feb 2010 GBBD Feb 2010 monster storm Feeling Blue Feeling Blue? Finch Fire Pink First Day of April First Snow First Snowfall Project Fiskars Flame Azalea Flat Tire Basket Flick'r photo large sizes Floral Collages Focal Black and White photo Foliage-Followup Forsythia Fourth of July Foxglove Foxy in November Free Will Friends Fritillaria Frozen Blooms Galanthus Garden Garden Blessings Garden Blogger Bloom Day:November 2008 Garden Blogger Muse Day November 2009 Garden Blogger Muse Day:December 2008 Garden Blogger's Bloom Day:January 2009 Garden Bloggers Garden Bloggers Bloom Day Garden Bloggers Muse Day Garden Bloggers Muse Day (April 2009) Garden Bloggers Operation Christmas Child Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day Garden Bloggers' Muse Day: June 2009 Garden Books Garden Give Away Garden Give Aways Garden Give-Aways Garden Product Give Away Gardening Gone Wild photography contest Gardening Nude Gardening-by-Letter project GardenShoesOnline Garter Snake Ingests Toad GBBD Febrary 2009 GBBD July 2009 GBBD June 2010 GBBD March 09 GBBD:December 2008 GBMD May 2009 GBMD:January 2009 Geese in a Row--and Ducks too Giant Hyssop Give-Away Winner Gladiola Gloves Go Native Goblins and Pumpkins and Snakes oh my God in the Garden Golden Groundsel Goldenglow Goldenrod Goldfinch Goodbye March Graham Rice Gramma's Afghan Grapes Grasshopper Grateful Great Backyard Bird Count Great House Plant Census of 2010 Green and Gold Green Cure fungicide Hairy Woodpecker Happy Father's Day Haven Brand Manure Tea Hawk hawks Heated Birdbath Heather Heliopsis Heliotrope Hellebore Hellebore Collage HelleboreHover Hellebores Hellebores Book Give-Away Helleborus Helleborus niger Help Identify Animal Tracks Henry David Thoreau: Hepatica Heron Heuchera High School Orchestra Concert Highbush Blueberry Hip Mountain Mama Holiday Stress Holiday stress: How Much is Self-Imposed Holly Honored and Humbled Hornworms House Finch Hummingbird Clearwing Hyacinth Hyacinths Hylotelephium I Am Truly Thankful! I'm a bit Bee-hind Iberis Ice on Stream Ice Storm Ilex Impatiens Indentifying Butterflies Iris Iris reticulata It's Here Its Grown On Me Jacob's Ladder January 2010 snow January 2011 January 2013 Japanese Anemone Joe Pye Weed John Keats July garden 2010 Junco June 19th 2009 Just Be Gardens Kerria Kerria-Japanese Rose Keter Dynamic Composter Kombi Ladybird Johnson Lake Anna Lake Anna June 2009 Lake Vacation Lamium Lantana Late to the Party Again lavender Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Leyland Cypress Liatris Life Experiences Light Lilac Bush Limestone Liriope Liverwort Lobelia Lonicera sempervirens Luna the Greyhound Lungwort Lyme Disease Lyme Disease has gone to my Head Macro in a Mason Jar Mallard ducks March Birthday Bloggers March GBBD mention master gardener May 2010 May Apple Meaning Memorial Day 2010 Memories Mertensia Mid Summer's Eve Mid-June Blooms MidMarch Blooms and Foliage Milkweed Miniature Dachshund mishmash wednesday Mistflower Mites Monarchs Monarchs and Milkweed Monarda Monkshood Monthly Garden Bouquet Moon More April Bouquets Morning Light Mountain Laurel Mourning Doves MuhlyGrass Mums Muscari Muscle My Cat Smokie My Daughter My Dog James My Family My FIRST Enlarged Photo My Husband My Mother My Son My Yard Mystery Tracks Nandina Nandina berries National Cherry Blossom Festival Native Ginger Native Honeysuckle native plants Natural Habitat Nepata New York Fern Non-Natives Northern Flicker Not The Best Notecards November 2009 GBBD Now that's an 'ice picture Obedient Plant Oct 2008 GBBD Almost Ready Oct 2009 October 2009GBBD Of Gloves and Shovels Oh Say Can You See Okay so who or what is eating my plants Oliver Herford:I Heard a Bird Sing Operation Christmas Child Pain Management Techniques Pansies Pansy paperwhites Pay It Forward Project Pay-It-Forward gift-giving exchange Peanut Feeder Peonies by Mary Oliver Peony Perennials Perennials in my garden Perovskia Personal Poetry Personal Poetry: Petunia Phlox Phlox paniculata photo contest Photography Contests phytoplasma Pieris Pieris Japonica Pileated Woodpecker Pine Siskin Pink Azalea Pink Peony Planting Natives Plants on Ice Poetry Pollinators Polymonium Pond Critters Poppy Potentilla Potomac River Pretty Pink Peony Has Popped Prize Winners Product Reviews Project FeederWatch Pulmonaria Pumpkin Carving Purple Coneflower Purpose Questionmark butterfly radishes Rain Rain Barrel Rainbarrel Rainbow Project Rainy Days Raspberry and Lemon Sherbet Reasons I Garden red admiral Red Winged Blackbird Red-Bellied Woodpecker Red-Spotted Purple Red-winged Blackbird Redbud Relaxing Remember Renee's Garden Revised GBBD February 15 Richmond VA Robert Frost Robin Robin'sNestingPlace Rock Soapwort Rock Solid RockSoapwort Roly-Poly Squirrel Rose hips Roses Roses with Thorns Rosy Maple Moth Rudbeckia Rudbeckia lanciniata Russian Sage S.A.D. Salvia Salvia greggi Samuel Taylor Coleridge:The Nightengale Sanguinaria Scilla Seagulls Seasonal Affective Disorder Security Blanket Sedum Sedum Autumn Joy Seed Planting Experiment Seed Starter System Seed-Planting Experiment#1 Seed-Planting Experiment#2 Seed-Planting Experiment#2 (cont.) Seeds Sense of Humor September blooms September Blooms:A Series of Surprises September Surprises #3 Serviceberry Shades of Blue Shady Gardener:Gladsome Be? sharing Sharp-shinned Hawk Shawna Coronado Shirl's Garden Watch Siberion Buglose Skink Slaty Skimmer dragonfly Snake Snake skin Snow Snow in Spring Snowdrop Anenome Snowdrops Snowstorm Solomon's Seal Sounds of the Birds Speedwell Spicebush Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly cats spicebush swallowtail caterpillar Spider Webs Spiderwort sprained ankle Spring Buds and Bulbs Spring Has Sprung Spurge Squirrel Squirrels stainless steel water bottle Standard Poodle Starling Steam on Fence Strawberries Succulents Summer Flowers SunRays Sunrise Sustainable Living project Swallowtail Butterflies Sweaters Hoods and Coats Sweet Allysum Sweet William Teacup and Teapot Tete-a-Tete Thank You to Phillip Thanksgiving The Best Christmas Gifts The Complete Idiot's Guide to Composting The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hellebores The GGW photo contest I 'almost' entered on time The Multi-Hued Greens of Spring The Ocean The Seed Keeper Company The Sun Shines at Night The Thrush This Ain't No April Fools Joke This aMayzing Day Thyme Tiarella Titmouse Toad Lily Tools Toulouse goose Tradescantia Tree Sparrow Trees Trillium Trout Lily Tufted Titmouse Tulips Tulips in Spring Tulips on Thursday Turtle Crossing turtle garden Turtlehead TX-Bluebonnet Umbrella VA Gardener Magazine Valentine's Display variegated foliage Verbena Veronica Vinca Violas Virginia Bluebells Virginia Gardener Magazine Wake Robin Walt Whitman:Miracles Washington DC Water Fountain Water Garden Waterfall/Stream WBBS Wednesday Words Weeping Willow West County Gardener What Are You Waiting For What d'ya think Janet What's Happening? What's New in November White Embden geese White Peony White-Breasted Nuthatch Wild Geranium Wild Ginger Wildflower Wednesday Wildflowers Will the Real Turtle Please Come Out William Wordsworth William Wordsworth:The Daffodil's Willow Leaved Sunflower Window; Death; Personal Photography Winter I Am So Over You Winter is for the Birds Winter Light Winter Solstice winter storm slide-show Winter Walk-Off 2014 Winterberry Witch Hazel Woodfern Woodland Pinkroot Woodpecker WORDLESS Friday Wordless Wednesday: Wren X-Rated Yellow but not Mellow Yesterday and Today Zinnia Zinnia Bud (Plan B)