Predator?

[Alabama ee]

This morning I noticed muddy footprints all over the water trough for the donkeys. Whatever it is made muddy footprints all around the rim. Looks like it was also inside. It either fell in, or played in the water. I can see where it scaled back out. Sorta looks like cat prints-maybe a little smaller. I would think it was a domestic cat but the footprints were muddy. Any guesses?

 

[Toast n Jelly]

If you can, take pics of the footprints...from what you say it could be any small animal.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Water is always attractive to raccoons. But when you said the prints were smaller than a cat's I wonder? Rats, opossums, or?

 

[Alabama ee]

Quote:
I am thinking it might be a baby raccoon? I can't think of anything else that might play in the water like that. Also, it would have had to come over our fence. I have 5 foot fence with 2 by four wire on three sides, and chain the forth side. It looked like it jumped in and out several times. Either that, or there was more than one.