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I'd like to get some molds of tracks this weekend. I had some ideas on where I am going, but figured I'd tap into this resource as no other entity covers more ground in AZ.

So, a good cougar and bear track is what I need to get. In the last couple days has anyone seen any on a hike? Even within the last week may work. A ringtail too (the one on top of Piestewa aren't cooperating) would be handy. If anyone has come across a lot of tracks and they don't know them, that would be good too. Thanks hikers. -Eric

Bear tracks (and the animals themselves) are fairly common in the Sierra Ancha wilderness.

Lots of tracks on the hike up Mount Ord from Slate creek-- although, you probably couldn't make a mold out of tracks in the snow. The melting snow, though, does turn pretty muddy so you might be able to get some nice tracks just below the snow line.

Yeah, snow won't work, but the mud is great substrate, thanks, I may check that area.

Thanks Paul, Sierra Ancha was on the bear list. I've almost always seen good sign in there when I think back. Has anyone been in there in the last week and seen some on a particular trail? I am totally taking the easy way out by not doing the exploration.

Thanks again both of you for quick responses!

You might have trouble finding fresh bear tracks this time of year because they're probably hibernating.

Jim Lyding wrote:You might have trouble finding fresh bear tracks this time of year because they're probably hibernating.

A lot of AZ bears don't hibernate, especially in the lower areas. There will be bears out in the Supes, for example. It all depends on how much food is available. Even in snow-covered NJ, bears are increasingly staying active all year, but here it's largely due to the availability of food from human sources.

I've read about AZ bears not hibernating all winter, but also that it's more of a semi-hibernation with bears (particularly adult males) periodically leaving their dens and moving around. I still wouldn't expect to have much luck finding bear tracks in January.
I've also read some interesting stuff about why bears sometimes leave their dens in the winter. Some biologists think it's because there's still food available, some biologists think it's because sustenance in a particular area is relatively poor so the bears can't put on enough fat to survive a winter-long hibernation.

In related news I read that Colorado is moving to ban hunting bears in their dens.

The last three bear hunts in NJ were all during winter months and they're getting them out and about. This year there was snow on the ground and tracking them was reportedly easy. These guys aren't anywhere near starving, either. Bears over 600 pounds are fairly common around here, and several over 700 pounds have been taken. However, I can easily believe that food shortages during the rest of the year could have the same result if there's food available in winter. If not, there won't be bears for very long.

That's interesting. Bears getting that big must mean that they're in excellent habitat. I wouldn't be surprised if there are cougar in NJ as well. I'm sure your area is crawling with whitetails.

Yeah, we're totally overrun with deer. We've had some claimed cougar sightings, but nothing verified. Another indicator of how well bears do here is that three cubs has become the norm.

Anyway, back to the original topic, I've only seen cougar tracks in a few places, none of which I would expect to be a high-probability find. Reavis Creek near the ranch is a reasonable bet for bear tracks, and that mushy place on the Reavis Gap Trail. Juniper Basin in the Rincons is also a good place for tracks. I liked paulhubbard's suggestion, too. What I saw of the Sierra Anchas had as much bear scat per square foot than any place I've been.

I saw some Cougar tracks at Toby Keith's bar and grill two nights ago
seriously, this was what we found on the trails in SA in September: http://www.hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=157182

paulhubbard wrote:I saw some Cougar tracks at Toby Keith's bar and grill two nights ago

You're not supposed to be tracking those....they're out of season!

paulhubbard wrote:Toby Keith's bar and grill

I got tricked into going there once...

It would be a ridiculously far drive for you, but I saw what I think were cougar tracks here on Thursday: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1967

Cougarlife.com might have some suggestions, too.

I've seen mtn. lion tracks east of the main trail of Spur Cross just after a rain.
Also up on Perry Mesa near Pato Pueblo. If I were going out to look, I'd check stock tanks on Perry Mesa. The ones closest to the edge of the Aqua Fria Canyon.

Another spot I just remembered (though I can't vouch for what tracks are there right now)-- the dirt floor of the Sunflower mine processing facility turns to mud in the rain and then dries extremely hard and flat. Really nice, clear tracks can be found all over that spot and its perfect for making molds.

I saw some lion tracks almost the size of my hand up at the top of Four Peaks right off the road this summer.

From what I've read up, bears at elevations of 6,000ft or less (not much snowpack) or bears on mountain ranges on the fringe of the desert such as the sierra ancha's tend to hibernate for a much shorter period of time rather than a bear on top of the mogollan rim or the white mountains.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Will try to hit as many as we can, plus some others. That camera trap photo is nice to know about, thanks Joe.