Impossible Animal Tracks in the Snow

[acollins223]

These tracks were in the fresh snow in my backyard one morning last week. They don't seem to make any sense. They're basically three grooves in the snow, altogether about 6" wide, and run the entire length of my fenced-in yard. It looks like someone drug something through the snow but, as you can see, there are no human footprints. There are also no small animal or bird tracks anywhere near or within this. It seems like something small drug itself across the yard, but wouldn't there be a small footprint or two somewhere? This was definitely a living thing because my dogs were very interested in following this track. There was one point where it looks like whatever made these stopped and flopped around in the snow before continuing to the fence. I'd be really curious if anyone has any input into what these might be.


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The track seems to begin (or stop?) at this point. There is a tree nearby and it seems like something fell out of the tree and then drug itself to the fence. Still to me, however, the straightness of the "ski track" and the lack of any small footprints or indications that something "pushed itself" along make this seem unlikely.

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[hunter63]

Hunter63, saying Hey and Welcome.
As we have no clue as to your location.......snow still covers a lot of northern North America, and didn't mention rural, unban, wilderness,
woods, open fields.......Not much to go on.

Looks like tail dragging may have covered footprints.....?

Or .....maybe a snow snake....very rare.

[gryffynklm]

Until you mentioned the tree I was thinking a Dachshund saw his girlfriend on the other side of the fence.

[acollins223]

Eastern coast of Canada is my location. Lots of pheasants out this time of year but I can't see how the tail dragging could completely cover any and all footprints.

[hunter63]

Many animals walk with one foot in front of another....making a narrow track....tail may over tracks.
Pheasants in eastern Canada?.....Wow, they have to plant them here in Wisconsin, as the winters are harsh, and habitat is limited.

[1stimestar]

A rodent carrying a stick?

[acollins223]

Lots of pheasants here. I saw probably a dozen on the road yesterday on a 1-hour drive.

Interesting ideas. A rodent would have left foot prints of some sort. The snow was very soft. I'm thinking this must be a bird. Why else would it start in a spot in the middle of the yard? It had to have landed, or flew off, from the spot shown in the last photo. The trail begins with the indentation shown in the snow. The other end of the trail snaked around trees in the far corner of the backyard before meeting the chainlink fence. At that point it stopped with no further tracks in the snow on the other side of the fence and no dead body. The fact that it snaked around trees rules out the possibility of a bird (like a pheasant) flying along with just its tail dragging through the snow.

[canid]

You made it with a stick/branch. What do I win?

[edr730]

looks like one mouse going back and forth moving pieces of food and burrowing under the snow

[Grizz123]

snow snake

[LowKey]

Did someone lose a hawk wearing jesses?
http://onthewingphotography.com/wing...grine-falcons/

[kyratshooter]

snow snake

Got to be a snow snake!

It's a big one too! I have not seen snow snake tracks that big since back in the '60s.

You have to be real careful when they are around. They are white and you can't see them and when you step on them they wrap around your feet and pull them out from under you. Then you wind up falling on your butt in the snow just like you slipped and fell for no reason.

[canid]

I hadn't even considered snow snakes. You suppose it could even be an eastern snow-stick snake?

[Lamewolf]

Until you mentioned the tree I was thinking a Dachshund saw his girlfriend on the other side of the fence.

NO NO NO, its the track of a snow snake !

[ClayPick]

Do you have any water around your house? Star nosed moles are starting to move around a lot more now.

[hunter63]

Up here is the Nort country, Wisminnagian, the snow snake danger is a major consideration, with sprits being important as a preventive measure, and cure.
That why there a saloons every so many mile in the middle of nowhere.
One can't be too carful.

[Bluerider]

Someone riding a 10 speed bicycle in the snow?

[Batch]

We don't have snow snakes in South Florida...yet. Dang hoop snakes might get out of hand though.

[Wise Old Owl]

Star moles would be under the snow rare to see them on top. They track is too wide... I am going with a Male Pheasant.