Need help identifying tracks. Stupidly forgot to put something down for scale but about 50p size.
Found in mud leading down to River Wyre in Lancashire. Could they be water vole or rat?
Looks like vole; bounding gait pattern.
The difference between rat & water vole prints is that the hind prints of water vole are splayed & display a typical star pattern, with the outer toes at right angles to the centre three (while the hind prints of rat have toes parallel). Vole prints are typically smaller approx 3.5cm, with short heel prints; rat prints are generally larger, 4.5cm, with long heel prints. Look for latrines & grazed bankside grasses, as well as listening fir the characteristic 'plop' as they dive into the water when disturbed.
Wow thank you so much
You're welcome.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/national-water-vole-database-mapping-project