I went out this morning to continue working on my coop. Today was the first day it hasn't rained nonstop since Monday. I saw these tracks right next to the coop (chicks are still in the brooder in the house) and my first thought was a mountain lion. They do range around here.
Looking more closely, I saw the claw marks at the front of each toe. I know (or at least, have read) that felines keep their claws retracted when walking while canines do not. My neighbor recently adopted two large dogs from the shelter. They are Lab/Great Dane mix. They are very big and according to my neighbor, are known livestock killers. He had to pay an extra "insurance fee" in order to bring them home because of this.
Now I am suspecting the neighbor's dogs visited my coop last night, but these prints are huge, even for a large dog. 5 1/2" across and 6 1/2" front-to-back. 12oz beverage can in the pics for scale. The tracks are all over my 1/2 acre.
Thoughts?
