I would so like this to be a spotted skunk, but it lacks the multi-part pad on the hind foot characteristic of that species. Change my mind.
i've read cat prints don't show claws, but these tracks seemed too large to be a dog, and a lion was seen not far from where I saw these prints. We are at 7000' in San Bernardino Forest.
Sign: Tracks 2.25-2.5” long. Band-taileds are the largest pigeons in NA weighing up to 18 oz. We were at 6000’ in the Laguna Mts, where there are no white-wing doves or feral pigeons, but prime habitat for band-tailed.
Sign: Tracks T3 2.5”. Total length 4 inches.
Sign: Tracks GAIT: Lope
Followed a peacock walking along Sisar canyon
mound/sign of pocket gopher
Little squiggly lines in the sand, found close to the dunes and sea figs.
Noted nest, > 1 meter tall, multiple entrances.
I considered this might be porcupine sign until I reviewed Elbroch's Mammal Track and Sign 2nd edition. From pg. 626 "they often feed on pine cambium, leaving distinct patchwork signs where they remove all the bark from the areas large enough and high enough to easily be confused with porcupine sign. Look closely at the size of the incisors, however, as red squirrels tend to leave readily discernable incisor marks in the bark of trees on which they forage". The last two photos show a zoomed in view of incisor marks in the cambium, much too small for porcupine. Red squirrel is an extremely common species out here and I reliably see many squirrel tracks each time I visit the sno park. To date, I have not seen porcupine tracks in the area.
Likely screech owl tracks due to size of tracks. Although there were moments where the animal walked, it appeared hopping was preferable.