Animal tracks in the snow in Lapland: a small field guide

Dry grasses poking through a thin snow cover

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Which animal tracks can you see in the snow in Lapland?Reindeer, hare, squirrel and fox tracks are common finds. With a little luck, you may also discover moose or otter tracks. This small field guide helps you compare footprints and track patterns, even when the animal has long since moved on.

At Mökki Tikka, take a closer look at paths and woodland edges after fresh snow. A trail often tells you more than a fleeting glimpse into the undergrowth. Of course, sightings of particular animals cannot be planned.

Quick identification: what shape can you see?

Track pattern	Possible animals	What to look for
Two halves of a cloven hoof	Reindeer, moose	Shape, size and several clear prints
Four toes and a pad	Fox, dog, wolf, lynx	Claws; rounded or elongated shape. Size alone is not reliable.
Groups of prints, larger ones in front	Hare, squirrel	Hind feet land ahead of the front feet
Five toes, often in bounding groups	Mustelids, otter, wolverine	Size, nearby water, possible drag mark
Thin toe marks	Birds	Toe arrangement, wing marks, size

How to read a trail

Look for several clear prints. Melting snow can make small paws look large.
Photograph from directly above, with a ruler beside the print, without damaging it.
Measure the length and width and note whether you included the claws.
Photograph the whole trail too: single prints, pairs or bounding groups?
Consider the setting: woodland, open ground, a tree trunk or a waterside?

Important:It is fine to leave an uncertain track unidentified. Deep snow, overlapping prints and thawing conditions can challenge even experienced trackers.

Reindeer

Two halves of a cloven hoof. In soft snow, small additional marks may appear behind them. Context often helps: established reindeer trails, grazing areas or paths.

Moose

Very large cloven hooves. In soft snow, additional small marks can appear behind the main print as the animal sinks in.

Animal photo:Justin Tapp / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

Hare

A bounding trail: usually two larger hind-foot prints in front and two smaller front-foot prints behind. The pattern is often clearer than an individual print.

Red squirrel

A bounding pattern is typical. Depending on speed, the front feet can land very close together, making four prints look like three.
Smaller front foot, larger hind foot

Red fox / Arctic fox

A narrow, often very straight trail is typical. Many foxes trot purposefully, leaving what looks like a fine line.
Prints are much smaller than a wolf’s. Weather and snow can distort them, so always examine several steps.
Arctic fox prints resemble those of red foxes but may look more compact, depending on snow and paw fur. The habitat matters: open tundra, little cover and wind-packed snow.

Around Ranua, the red fox is the relevant species.The Arctic fox is very rare in Finland and lives in the fell country of the far north. A small fox print near the cottage is not evidence of an Arctic fox.

Track photo:Lucyin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and saved as WebP for the website.

Dog

Dog – reference photo — Dog – the animal

A dog’s trail is often broader and less straight than a wolf’s. Many dogs wander, sniff and change pace, making their trails look less regular.
An individual print can look very similar to a wolf’s. Even the trail does not always allow a reliable distinction; when uncertain, leave it unidentified.

Animal photo:Anil Öztas / Wikimedia Commons, FAL. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

Wolf

Four toes and usually visible claws. A large dog can leave very similar prints.
An individual print and its size are not enough for reliable identification. A straight trail is not proof either.
Photograph the print and trail from the path, ideally with a scale. Have suspected wolf tracks assessed by an expert; do not follow the animal.

Track photo: Lisa Hupp / USFWS, public domain; reference photograph from Alaska.

Lynx

A rounder paw than a wolf, dog or fox. Claws are usually not visible because cats generally retract them when walking.
Details quickly blur in soft snow, so examine several prints and the overall trail.

Animal photo: Magnus Rosendahl, Skansen, Sweden; track photo: Thomas Westphal, Sweden. Both public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Wolverine

The wolverine is a mustelid, not a cat. Broad paws with five toes and claws are typical, although not every toe will show in snow.
Bounding often produces groups of three or four prints. Front paws are larger than hind paws.
Soft snow enlarges and blurs prints. A deep hole alone is not enough for identification.

Track photo: Madeleine Rea / USGS, public domain; reference photograph from Alaska.

Eurasian otter

Five toes, often close to water. A drag mark is frequently visible too, and sometimes sliding marks, depending on the snow.

Animal photo:Alexander Leisser / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

Beaver

Usually near water. Alongside footprints, look for slides, gnawed wood and paths between the water and bankside trees.

Animal photo:Ryzhkov Sergey / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

Muskrat

Also closely associated with water. Trails often run between the bank and cover, sometimes with drag marks in the snow.

Animal photo:Cephas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

Capercaillie

Bird tracks with toe impressions. In winter, structures along the toes of grouse can make the prints appear broader: a natural snowshoe effect.
Bird tracks cannot always be identified to species. Look for other clues: trails, wing marks, droppings, feeding signs, woodland edges and changes in habitat.

Animal photo:Richard Bartz, Munich aka Makro Freak / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

Weasel

Weasel tracks resemble stoat tracks but are generally finer. Snow often reveals short sequences of quick bounds, sometimes along cover, woodpiles or stream banks.

Animal photo:Keven Law / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

American mink

Like otters, mink are usually found near water, but their tracks are smaller and finer, often forming quick bounds along the bank. The sequence and location are useful clues.

Animal photo:Marton Berntsen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Reference photo; resized and converted to WebP for the website.

Brown bear

Bears have five toes; the hind print can look elongated and almost human. Brown bears normally spend winter in their dens, so tracks in snow are more likely outside midwinter. Do not approach a possible den.

Track photo: Diane Renkin / NPS, public domain. Grizzly tracks from Yellowstone, USA: a reference image, not a photograph from Lapland.

Tracking with children

A short walk is enough: who can find hooves, paws or bird toes first? Photograph your discoveries and compare them later in the warm cottage. Stay on familiar paths, respect wildlife and never follow a trail onto unfamiliar ice. Keep dogs under control; do not chase or feed animals.

Frequently asked questions about tracks in snow

How can I tell a wolf from a dog?

One print is usually not enough. Shape, trail and other clues need to fit together. Ask an expert to assess suspected wolf tracks.

Why do hare tracks look backwards?

When bounding, the long hind feet land ahead of the smaller front feet. The larger prints therefore point ahead in the direction of travel.

When are tracks easiest to find?

After fresh snow that is not too deep, before wind, further snowfall or a thaw alter the outlines. Older tracks can be interesting too, but are harder to identify.

Are snake tracks typical in winter?

No. The adder overwinters in a sheltered place. Its photograph belongs in a nature guide for the snow-free season instead.