What made this Print

[hunter hunted]

Hi Just wondering if anyone can identify this print as we thought it was too big for dog.

[forestguy]

Is it 3-toed, or is that a fouth in the lump on the right of the middle one?

http://www.cfzaustralia.com/2007/06/3-toes-prints.html

[hunter hunted]

Hi Forestguy
We counted four but could have been three.We believe the centre mark to be 2 toes

[forestguy]

yeah, that's what I thought - how big is your wallet?

[hunter hunted]

10 and half centermeters by 8 and half centremetres

[AMH-Hunter]

Hunter, I recognise the print. I was with a friend on Monday out in the bush and we encountered the Panther. He chased it three times and when we looked at the tracks, we they looked like what you'ved photographed. Although I don't know why they look like that, perhaps it's the way it runs or perhaps the ground was too dry to retain features and the wind tainted the print, but we found ones like that in it's trail.

I've found a more clear one recently though, similarly sized. 10cm long by 9cm wide. We found it on a large-ish pile of mud in a not too isolated area. It was also wet, so whatever made it left a good imprint. However there was only one print, but it was near the side of a valley near a road, perhaps it put one paw out then decided it didn't want to go that way.

The smaller imprints around it are dog paw prints, we know that for sure because the dog was still there when we took it.

[hillbilly]

HH,I have never seen such a print.
I have seen natives and ferals. Big and small,.. dogs and cats. I Dont know.
There was another one there posted by someone, but their example looks like a dog print. I can clearly see the claws, and it dont look nuffin like your one. Big cats dont usually have their claws visible, but dogs cannot pull the claws in.
But,....I have no idea for you. Sorry.

[hunter hunted]

Hi Hillbilly
My thoughts on the print is it is a big cat..But the area in relation to this has also had thylicine history,
A friend of mine has found what he believed to be the back feet marks beside a water hole..but no cast was taken..
AMH -HUNTER wheir was your print taken .State etc..

[forestguy]

A friend of mine has found what he believed to be the back feet marks beside a water hole..but no cast was taken...

Hey mate - any pic of them either?

[AMH-Hunter]

Hunter Hunted,
It was taken in Victoria. In the Dandenong Ranges. I now think it's more than likely a big dog, after what Hillbilly said about the claws. I knew most felines can retract their claws but it never occured to me. The reason I associated it with Big Cat was because of the rumours and a recent report around our area, and it's relative size compared to the smaller dog prints around it which were made by a Golden Retriever on the same road, the big print was around 3 times the size of the smaller around it.

But after looking at a Panther paw print on Google, I realised over time I had forgotten what one looked like. This paw print was around 10cm though, so now I'm clueless as to what made it. But with no theory, I'm going to disregard it and just assume it's too indecisive to help this cause.

[daniel john]

hey mate where abouts was this track found if you dont mind me asking?
also would you be against me posting this on another forum i am a part of, to maybe gain a answer?

dan

[daniel john]

this is a dingo print, it looks similar to the print you posted minus the two outer toes.

thats the best i can come up with on the print you posted...

[Nuns]

Large domestic cat?