What's been hanging around my coop?

[gottsegnet]

Found these tracks in the snow near the coop. Our first physical evidence of nighttime visitors. He seems to be just passing through, since he just went along one fence and then on toward the hedge at the property line. But if he's a predator, I'm sure he'll be back. Any ideas what he is?

 

[Alabama ee]

To me , it looks like a skunk. The two in the front have more of a round shape and the back are more oval .

 

[ConchRepublic]

Here are some tracks

Skunk
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2344/2149195744_f72c8496cb.jpg

Squirrel
http://www.richmondnatureparksociety.ca/images/squirrel_tracks.jpg

Possom
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.e...arsupials/didelphis_tracks3694.jpg/medium.jpg

Coon
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mQzLgueBrvo/Sz4olOChBSI/AAAAAAAAA5k/UR_a7yWgF5o/s400/coon+tracks.jpg


Hope these help at all, not completely sure if they are accurate tracks though, but I believe they are.

 

[Matt A NC]

A size reference would be helpful.

Right now they look like skunk, but there should be marks for the claws.

Matt

 

[gottsegnet]

I'm starting to think squirrel. I'm not absolutely positive it went by at night. My chickens aren't that interested in leaving their comfy coop until it starts to warm up, so I haven't been in that big of a hurry to get down there in the morning.

Anyway, squirrels seem to run with the front feet together like this guy. Our old pet ferret did that, so I thought weasel initially. But while it went right by the coop, it didn't hang around or go through the fence which is just chain link.

Size reference: that partial track in the bottom right is of our dog, a lab mix. His tracks are a little larger than a coyote's.

 

[Matt A NC]

Squirrel

 

[dacjohns]

Rabbit on tip toes.

 

[gottsegnet]

Quote:
Yeah! I hope so. Not too worried about them eating my chickens, at least!

 

[sourland]

Rabbit.

 

[speckledhen]

Doesn't look like the rabbit tracks I see all around my place; those are much more elongated on the back. Not sure, but there are no claw marks so not canine, anyway.