What's a bounding track?

 


A bounding track describes the gait (how the animal moves), not the foot.

In a bound, the animal moves in little “launch and land” jumps:

  • It pushes off with its back legs.

  • The front feet land first.

  • Then the hind feet swing forward and land ahead of the front feet (often side-by-side).

That landing order makes the classic “bounding” track pattern you photographed: two prints in front (hind feet) and one or two behind (front feet, often overlapping).

Animals that commonly leave bounding tracks: rabbits/hares, squirrels, weasels/stoats, mink, otter—basically critters that hop or lope rather than walk with evenly spaced alternating footsteps.

The above picture, taken today while shoveling fresh snow in front of my garage, is most likely that of a rabbit. What you’re seeing:

  • The two longer prints side-by-side in front = the hind feet landing ahead of the body.

  • The single rounder print behind = one of the front feet; the other front foot often lands right on top of it or so close that it looks like just one mark (especially in fluffy or slightly melting snow).

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