GAITS-- HOW ANIMALS MOVE

Look at this line of prints.  The long prints were left by hind feet, yet the rabbit was going from left to right.   See the rabbit make the tracks. Here is a line of prints that show tracks in groups of 3's.  This is called "bounding".   See a cat making these tracks. Although canines usually use a "roto-gallop" which leaves prints in a series of C's, this red fox was probably stalking prey and putting each hind foot in the track left by the fore foot.  This is called "registering" and is also done by cats and coyotes when making little noise is vital. Raccoons walk with a waddle and leave a double line of tracks. There are many gaits and most animals use different ones, depending on the situation.  However most animals have a few which are characteristic of the species and that will help you interpret their tracks.