What animal tracks are these in the snow?

[Chicklady707]

I found these tracks today along with a hole dug. The hole only goes until the concrete footing of the chicken coop (old milk house) and then stops. There is a picture with a footprint from one of the chickens next to the mysterious animal print for size comparison. I am not sure what animal this would be. Any ideas?

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I'm no expert - but I asked my dad and he said it looks like fox prints. They tiptoe like that.

 

[The Kooky Kiwi]

Looks to me like two hind feet (smaller prints in the middle) and two front feet (larger prints to the outside). Size.. next to a chicken.. says small animal..

Squirrel??

 

[itsasmallfarm]

looks like a pine squirrel to me.

 

[DukesDucks]

At first I thought cat or fox, but decided on fox since I think I see nail prints. But when compared beside the chicken print now I am thinking maybe a member of the weasel family especially as a hole was dug. Do you have a field camera you could set up?

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera put it up and it may solve the mystery. Could be a rat. Good luck...

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

after seeing everyone else's replies I'm thinking a large rat or squirrel. Possibly a small fox, but the hole looks a bit too small for a fox.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I am going with rat.

 

[The Kooky Kiwi]

https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/squirrel-tracks-snow.html

 

[Chicklady707]

Looks to me like two hind feet (smaller prints in the middle) and two front feet (larger prints to the outside). Size.. next to a chicken.. says small animal..

Squirrel??

Yes, I believe you are correct. My 15 yo son said the same thing and I did see a small pine/red squirrel 🐿 by the coop this morning. (I was so afraid it was going to be rats)