MOUNTAIN LION (sub-adult male)
Left HIND Foot

image of right hind track of mountain lion

MOUNTAIN LION (sub-adult male)
Right FRONT Foot

image of right front track of mountain lion

image of ruler

Fig. 1. Comparison of a left hind foot track with a right front foot track of a 44 kg (97 lbs.) sub-adult male Mountain Lion.

MOUNTAIN LION
Right HIND Foot

image of right hind foot of mountain lion

DOG
(german Shepherd, average size)

image of German Shepard track

IMAGE OF SIZE SCALE

Fig. 2. Comparison of a right hind foot track of a captive male Mountain Lion estimated to weigh 90 kg (198 lbs.) with a track of an average size German Shepherd Dog (weight unknown).

MOUNTAIN LION
Right HIND (Kitten)

image of right hind foot of mountain lion kitten

BOBCAT
Left HIND Foot

image of left hind foot of bobcat

image of ruler

Fig. 3. Comparison of a right front foot track of a Mountain Lion kitten which weighed 8 kg (18 lbs.) with the left hind foot of a wild bobcat (relatively large track).

MOUNTAIN LION
Right FRONT Foot

image of right font foot of mountain lion

BLACK BEAR (Small)
Right FRONT Foot

image of right front foot of black bear

image of ruler

Fig. 4. Comparison of a right front foot track of a wild male (weight unknown) with the right front foot track of a small black bear (weight unknown).

image of tools for collecting animal tracks
Tools of the track trade: common plaster of plaster of Paris, water, mixing can, paper strips for the form and a track.

image of a finished plaster casting of a track
One inch of the plaster-water mix is poured into the form.

image of girl collecting animal tracks
Form the paper strips and place them over the track.

image of plaster being poured into mold
After short drying time the cast can be lifted and the dirt cleaned off. Cast can be improved by painting track and background contrasting colors.

Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri