Strange print on AT

[Zig-Zag]

I stumbled upon this strange print this evening on the AT. It was located in the roller coaster between Rt. 605 and Rod Hollow shelter.

I suspect there are multiple "swipes" going on in this picture...but I've never seen one that looks quite like this before. My shoe is a size 15 for reference.

[gpburdelljr]

Looks like where a buck urinated and pawed the ground. It is the time of year for them to rut.

[Heliotrope]

Clearly a big foot print


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[LIhikers]

Clearly a big foot print


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A size 15 is surely a big foot

[Zig-Zag]

Looks like where a buck urinated and pawed the ground. It is the time of year for them to rut.

Thanks, I know about the rut but had never seen a mark like this. Pretty awesome!

Clearly a big foot print


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AS long as it doesn't want to mate :-)

A size 15 is surely a big foot

You know what they say about big feet......big socks, big disappointment, etc... lol

[OldGringo]

That's the paw print if the notorious Chupacabra... you easterners are screwed now...


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[Heliotrope]

That's the paw print if the notorious Chupacabra... you easterners are screwed now...


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Oh crap!


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[Traveler]

That's the paw print if the notorious Chupacabra... you easterners are screwed now...

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There's more....

Chupacabra's are typically found in close proximity to tribes of Sasquatch.

[garlic08]

Yeah, definitely the four-toed subspecies of Chupacabra. Hide your goats.

Great photo. Hang on to that one to scare the grandchildren.

[Moosling]

That's the paw print if the notorious Chupacabra... you easterners are screwed now...


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That was my guess too.


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[Bronk]

Looks like damage from an hiker with a trekking pole to me. You'll usually find these within 10 feet of shelters where they try to scratch a hole to use the bathroom in.

[Engine]

Looks like damage from an hiker with a trekking pole to me. You'll usually find these within 10 feet of shelters where they try to scratch a hole to use the bathroom in.

Man, I hope you didn't step in it...

[burger]

There is no way that's from a deer--deer don't have claws.

I'd guess it was something with claws digging into the ground for bugs or something. Maybe a bear. In that area, though, more likely skunk, racoon or possum is more likely.

[gpburdelljr]

There is no way that's from a deer--deer don't have claws.

I'd guess it was something with claws digging into the ground for bugs or something. Maybe a bear. In that area, though, more likely skunk, racoon or possum is more likely.

Deer have a cloven hoof, and each of the two halves is pointed toward the front. When a buck makes a scrape during the rut, it scrapes the ground with its hoofs and the resulting marks looks like claw marks. I assume you have never hunted and looked for scrapes in the fall.

Edit: The second picture of the following link shows a similar picture.
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall...ch_p/sign.html

[burger]

Deer have a cloven hoof, and each of the two halves is pointed toward the front. When a buck makes a scrape during the rut, it scrapes the ground with its hoofs and the resulting marks looks like claw marks. I assume you have never hunted and looked for scrapes in the fall.

Edit: The second picture of the following link shows a similar picture.
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall...ch_p/sign.html

That scrape in your photo looks nothing like the OP's photo. There are clear signs of sharp claws in the photo here--no such thing in your photo (or in other photos that I looked up before I made my earlier post).

Unless deer in Virginia sharpen their hooves somehow, that's not a deer marking.

[Majortrauma]

The rut hasn't started yet. Not saying it's not deer though.

[Engine]

That scrape in your photo looks nothing like the OP's photo. There are clear signs of sharp claws in the photo here--no such thing in your photo (or in other photos that I looked up before I made my earlier post).

Unless deer in Virginia sharpen their hooves somehow, that's not a deer marking.

I saw a buck scrape this morning on my run and it looked almost identical the OP photo. The buck uses the tip of it's hooves and scrapes the ground. I understand how it might look like claws, but if you look at the left-most mark, you'll notice the marks overlap. That would be impossible if they were made by claws on the same foot.

[AfterParty]

That's a turkey that scratched at the ground possibly a deer but looks more like turkey to me.

[Dogwood]

That's surely an ATosauros print.

[Turk6177]

I believe that is where Lisa Simpson may have done a face plant.