What is this?

[Blue Sky]

My husband was just as puzzled and had no explanation. We weren't doing any work that would explain it. Bears aren't impossible here but aren't common. Sasquatch type beasts are rumored nearby from time to time-?? (Nah not buying it). El Chupecabra? Wolverine? (Too far south) Wolverine (Hugh Jackman- singing an aria from Les Miserables while dicing a round bale?) Seriously we don't know but have no missing animals. Can't get the big pyrs toes that far apart and she must think I'm nuts. Hopefully it's her. We're being careful.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Going with bear on this one too

 

[Blue Sky]

Doh! Just glad it wasn't a predator. Pup wasn't supposed to get in that pasture. Upside he's guarding instead of chasing chickens.

 

[Qchickiemama]

If bears have 5 digits per paw, I'm puzzled by the appearance of a 6th scratch in the original photo.

 

[Blue Sky]

See photo above. Back feet have six. Dews are robust enough to leave a mark. I thought he couldn't access that pasture but found him there this a.m.

 

[sadieml]

I was thinking bear, too until that pic, @Blue Sky , dew claw definitely explains it, though they usually aren't that strong. Glory be. I'm sure you're glad it ain't a bar (or lion). We get both here, though not frequently. A few years ago a mountain lion killed a full grown llama down the road. I'm sure that shook everyone up a little.

 

[Blue Sky]

We suddenly have a lot of whitetail deer in neighborhood, things are definitely moving around.