[Nancyann]

Moose or a large elk?

[ThinAir]

Location?

[Nancyann]

I 90 Corridor, solo animal. One of my expert friends assured me it was just an elk.

[Slide Alder Slayer]

I once spooked a large moose that was feeding at Boiling Lake in the Chelan Sawtooth, got right up on it as it was hidden behind some trees when it raised it head and trotted off. Talk about a moment! That moose left some giant tracks, much larger that what is pictured in the snow. To elaborate, I was first up on Horsehead Pass looking down on Boiling Lake and could not figure what this big horse was doing in the lake with it's head in the water. It was only when I went down to investigate the horse that I came upon the huge moose; I don't know who was more startled. Thank god the moose took off and did not charge and stomp me to death. I agree, an elk or a large deer.

[snowmonkey]

Agreed to Elk. Moose would have a slight indication of a leading point.

[Nancyann]

That’s a great story, Slide Alder Slayer! Normally I would think these were elk tracks, but then I remembered the wandering moose seen recently crossing I-90 on the wildlife bridge and I was (slumming) in the I-90 area yesterday. I have seen moose tracks several times at Remmel Lake and they were larger than these, so elk or large deer makes more sense. Oh well…

[JonnyQuest]

Absolutely elk. Moose tracks look like this...

[Bootpathguy]

More interesting, what is that partial print @ the toe of your boot?

[Nancyann]

As I recall there were some dog or coyote prints nearby, but not quite sure what the one was by my boot.

[filbert]

Not knowing your shoe size, it's hard to tell what the size was... it might also be from a mountain goat. Do you know the elevation where you saw this? {Agreed that rounded quality of print makes it unlikely to be a moose}. -F

[Nancyann]

Filbert, the elevation was around 2,500 feet, so I am guessing way too low for a mountain goat.

[Sky Hiker]

Its an elk a cow or calf not a bull

[Nancyann]

Thanks for the input, Sky Hiker. Just curious, what is the difference between bull and cow hoof prints? I thought it was interesting that there were no other similar tracks in the area, this animal was traveling solo.

[Sky Hiker]

A bull will have 2 small imprints (dew claws)behind the main hoves. Bull tracks are longer and wider. Same goes with deer in a buck vs a doe.

[Sky Hiker]

A bull will have 2 small imprints (dew claws)behind the main hoves. Bull tracks are longer and wider. Same goes with deer in a buck vs a doe.