Gray Wolf Scat and Tracks: How to Identify Them (Canis lupus)

Carnivore scat is tubular, often twisted and tapered at one end, and full of hair, bone fragments, berries or seeds depending on the season. Dog-family tracks show four toes with claw marks and an X drawn between the pads; cat-family tracks show four toes with no claws and a three-lobed heel pad. Many carnivores leave scat on trails, rocks and junctions on purpose, so where it sits is a clue in itself. The measurements below for Gray Wolf are quoted from the wildlife agencies linked at the bottom of the page.

• Size: About 1 inch or more in diameter
• Shape: Wider and longer than Coyote scat
• Contents/color: Often contains large amounts of hair and bone fragments

• Front: About 4.5-5 inches long and 3-3.5 inches wide; the front foot is wider than the hind and usually slightly longer
• Hind: Slightly narrower or shorter than the front foot
• Claws usually show
• Gait: While walking or trotting, front and hind tracks often overlap in a straight line, with 25-38 inches between successive prints

• Den/nest: Often dug under large tree roots, next to boulders, on hillsides, or in caves, with a tunnel leading to an inner chamber
• Howling: Can carry about 11 km through forest and about 16 km across open ground

Wolves are much larger than Coyotes, with a broader muzzle and more rounded ears; a wolf carries its tail up while walking, while a Coyote's tail hangs down The Coyote page has its own sign list.

Wolf tracks are usually larger and more elongated than those of a large dog, with wider toe pads and a bigger heel pad; dog tracks are rounder with a shorter stride The Domestic Dog page has its own sign list.

Put something of known size next to it (a coin, a pen, a boot) and shoot straight down in soft light; low side light brings out the shape of tracks in mud or snow. For scat, photograph the whole deposit and one close-up showing contents. Note where it was: on a log, in the open, on a trail, near water. The app suggests the likely animal; confirm with the size and shape notes above.