What made this?

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Seriously, I agree the prints look feline. What type of cats are common in your area?

 

[siz8003]

I have no idea

 

[Barry]

I found that a Trail Camera answers that question, they are not very expensive and take reasonable infrared photos. Here is an example.

And day time

 

[Momma_Cluck]

You said black...

some "household" cats can get HUGE... We just lost our "Miss Baby" last week (age almost 20) and in her "prime", her new vet exclaimed -- "HOLY CR**! What do you FEED this thing!?"...
She weighed 27 lbs!!! and not JUST fat (tho rather chunky) she was 1/4 "Main Coon" and was BIG!

 

[jvls1942]

if you are near forest land it could be a bobcat or a lynx.

martins, fishers, minks, are all part of the weasel family. their tracks show up as two front feet side by side and back feet side by side..

bobcats make that single line track by putting the hind foot where the front foot was..

I had one look into my patio door one night..

Iast spring I had a black bear walk right up to my deck where I was sitting and drinking my morning coffee.. He was a lot bigger than me. when he realized I was sitting there, he turned and went around the house..

 

[sandypaws]

na,, ayeayes have that long funky middle finger...
looks like bobcat print, but they are not black,,, usually
to small to be bear..
not irregular enough to be weasel..
so it must be a chupacabra.. HIDE THE GOATS!!!!!!

maincoons get HUGE!!!!

 

[mominoz]

If there are no toenails showing ,it is of the cat family, they retract them unlike the canine family.
Can'T find my tom Brown tracking guide, but he shows you how to rack and things like coyote vs. dog tracks....

 

[horsejody]

I have some barn cats that leave paw prints at least that size. It's probably somebody's pet.

 

[GardenGirl]

Maybe it is the wild black panthers we have here in the NE! Take moving footage. It can be put on one of the shows that do exposees on the unknown wild animals in the area!! Make a fortun!

Seriously, there are bobcats here in the NE. I know we have one in the swamp behind our property. I'm nervous it will get the cahonas to come onto the yard. If you saw it late in the day and in the shadows, it could look dark. When one sees something quickly, the eyes can decieve what we see until we focus for a little while. I also agree that pet cats can get almost as large as a small wild cat, so could be that as well. Most definately a cat though from the prints. More than likely a feral or pet cat if you live in a more rural area. Bobcats don't like humans and will do anything to stay as far away from them as possible, unless they lose there habitat from overbuilding as has happened here.

 

[trinity]

if i had foot prints like that i would really try to do like someone sugested and get a camera out there.i hope you tell us when you figure it out.