A few weeks ago… exactly 2 weeks ago, when I was out with the dogs for their first morning run, I was looking around the yard and noticed some fresh footprints in the new snow we had received the night before. Curious about the prints, I set out to explore who had been enjoying the space we call our yard.
This snow came on the cusp of the crazy warm spell we have enjoyed over the last 2 weeks. The last 2 winters have been so insanely cold up here in New England, it's been a nice reprieve to have this unusual warmth in March.
I knew that with the forecast of warmer temperatures if I wanted to see the prints in the snow, I needed to start snapping the camera that morning.
The first footprints that you see are mine, in my fashionable morning gear…LOL.
Pajamas, boots, down coat and mittens….a fashion statement for sure!
The first set of prints I saw were these. Most likely a deer. I have only ever seen a deer in my yard once and sadly it was an injured deer that needed to be put down by a fish and game warden. It made the day a bit sadder, but thankfully the deer wasn't going to suffer any longer either.
Next were these prints? I'm thinking that maybe they were racoon prints, but I could be wrong. Definitely not a dog, but maybe a cat? From the impression however a racoon is what instantly came to mind.
Any of you who know footprints, please jump in and let us know.
Lastly there were these prints. Definitely an animal that waddles from how close together those footprints are. My guess from the scents of this early Spring would be a skunk. Ken has seen a number of them on his early morning walks and I have definitely been smelling their aromas when I am out with the dogs in the morning.
Hannah has always said that it's Spring when you can smell skunks.
She just may be right. 😉
It truly was a beautiful frosty morning!
I am so thankful that I took the time to do a little discovering before the new snow melted.
The Woolen Rabbit 
I bet you are right about the raccoon. We have many of them around here so I recognize those toes.
LikeLike
I think all of your educated guesses are correct. And Dale’s brother Randy always says that about skunks and spring, too.
LikeLike
I love finding tracks in the snow! I would say all your guesses are right. The skunks are beginning to be on the move here, too. I just hope my curious pups don’t figure out where they are. . .
LikeLike
Those don’t look like cat prints, so I think you’re right on the racoon.
LikeLike
That last shot is lovely!
LikeLike
Hummm….we are digging out from a spring blizzard….I should follow your lead and go tracking. Happy Easter.
LikeLike
I thought raccoon as I scrolled down. We don’t get to see tracks here in my N Central Florida suburban forest, but we do have a lot of raccoons! Yesterday morning, when I let the dogs out into our chainlink fenced backyard, there was an ungodly noise… They (beagle and basset) had seen and chased a rabbit under the wood pile. I SAVED the Easter Bunny! 🙂 Happy Spring!
LikeLike