Name that predator track!

[DoeAndGander]

Upon scoping out one of my coop this morning I noticed these tracks. I included quarter for size. I can’t see the actual track but it seems to be a pretty big rodent with a tail. Large Rat? Could it be anything else? Any recommendations for a bait station?

 

[DoeAndGander]

I can set up trail cam this eve but I’m afraid it won’t last long due to below zero temps

 

[Geena]

Looks like squirrel tracks to me.

 

[ufmama]

Do you have mink where you are? I think those tracks are similar

 

[DoeAndGander]

The tail drag is what gets me! I’m told we have mink but I have yet to see one. I found this:

 

[robson1015]

weasel or mink

 

[llombardo]

Looks like squirrel tracks to me.

I had just looked at squirrel tracks here. They are similar to these but not as pronounced, so I would say not squirrel. I followed the tracks by me and it went to the tree where the squirrels are.

 

[Geena]

Yeah, looking again, you're right, probably not squirrel. I didn't notice the boot prints in the first picture until now, the tracks look pretty small and close together compared to them. Maybe it is a small rodent OP. Did you notice where they come from or go to? Or are they just passing through?

 

[Molpet]

if it looks to be bigger than a mouse...being it's tunneling under the snow i vote vole.. https://www.google.com/search?q=vol...MKHW8gBOwQ9QEwCXoECAAQFg#imgrc=QIjMypD50tDPaM:

my dog caught a meadow vole today

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Here is a pic of a Norway rat bounding in snow... from the book shown