While I was portaging into Entry point #29 ( North Kawishiwi ), I noted these scratchings on a rock. I found several others, but these appeared to be prominent. Can anyone ID the animal that made these? The dollar bill is there for size reference.



Thanks Jim

Looks like bird poop to me

My guess would be that they are of human origin.

Hard to say for sure, but if on a portage likely from the skis of a snowmobile.

My first question: Is the dollar bill still there?

Carbide from a snowmobile or dogsled.

It looks like a buck to me.

The rock wasn't flat.
So, to me it appeared to be from an animal. The claw marks followed the curve of the stone.
After response from another site, big cats commonly scratch their claws, in this manner. This sounds more likely. My other thought, was a bear cub, imitating it's mother.
Maybe a Lynx ?

Thanks for the replies. I did take the bill with me ! I don't litter.

Jim

I can't imagine an animal scratching so perfectly parallel. I'd guess an 8 year old human with a rock.

yellowhorse: "I can't imagine an animal scratching so perfectly parallel. I'd guess an 8 year old human with a rock."

Agreed! I guess we will never know for certain unless someone owns up to this but I am in the company that believes the animal is a homo sapien.

How deep are the scratches? My guess is it's from a snowmobile. Unfortunately, these marks are very common on many entry point portages.

egknuti: ", these marks are very common on many entry point portages. "

I see them constantly. There is no question in my opinion that these are from snowmobiles.

So this portage is in the BWCA, yes Illegal for Snow mobiles. ?

If so ? It's too bad !

Jim

Yup it is illegal, just ask the old Ely mayor.

"The mayor of Ely is promising to end his decades of ignoring regulations in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Roger Skraba was sentenced in federal court Tuesday after pleading guilty to driving his snowmobile in the federal wilderness area.

The Duluth News Tribune reports Skraba also was sentenced for breaking into a U.S. Forest Service shed and stealing a portable toilet, which he had hidden.

Skraba pleaded guilty in March, three years after being caught and ticketed on Crooked Lake. He was fined $3,630, sentenced to 40 hours of community service and given two years probation."

The North Remembers -GoT

Soledad: "Yup it is illegal, just ask the old Ely mayor.

The North Remembers -GoT"

Hilarious LOL

Snowmobile skis are more than 2" wide.
Even if they were from a Snowmobile...most likely DNR Snowmobiles.

Snow Machines made them.
And Roger is a good guy.

Great Melinko: "Snowmobile skis are more than 2" wide.
Even if they were from a Snowmobile...most likely DNR Snowmobiles."

Having lived in Ely for thirty years I think the tracks are much more likely to be unofficial- "freedom riders".

Banksiana: "

Great Melinko: "Snowmobile skis are more than 2" wide.
Even if they were from a Snowmobile...most likely DNR Snowmobiles."

Having lived in Ely for thirty years I think the tracks are much more likely to be unofficial- "freedom riders"."

On what ? A GI Joe sized snowmobile lol

Stumpy: "Snow Machines made them.
And Roger is a good guy."

“Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.” -The Dude

Roger is a felon and someone who thought/thinks rules don't apply to him.

Great Melinko: "On what ? A GI Joe sized snowmobile lol"

The portage below my house sees tremendous amounts of snowmobile traffic. These scratches are all over the rocks. I assumed it's from the skis (or the high points of the skis). Could be some other feature on a snowmobile, don't know all that much about them beyond what can be observed through a scope.

Banksiana: "

Great Melinko: "
On what ? A GI Joe sized snowmobile lol
"

The portage below my house sees tremendous amounts of snowmobile traffic. These scratches are all over the rocks. I assumed it's from the skis (or the high points of the skis). Could be some other feature on a snowmobile, don't know all that much about them beyond what can be observed through a scope."

These are from carbide studs in a snowmobile track or from the carbides in the skis. I have a snowmobile that can make these marks.

Most of the N. Kawishiwi portage is outside of the Bdub. It is very common for people to snowmobile to the line and walk in. I’ve also lived in Ely 30 years. Common marks on a snowmobile route.

Dogsleds use pieces of these same tracks for drags on their sleds. It is a very efficient way of slowing down a dogsled.

Stumpy: "Snow Machines made them.
And Roger is a good guy."

Maybe…don’t know him personally, but he did dumb things—multiple times—didn’t seem to learn a lesson…and when that happens ya get called out. Especially if you are the mayor…

Most know how he got busted and it ain’t a good look…

T

Definitely looks like snowmobile-yes illegal and some people don't care.SAD>

Thanks everyone for the comments !

It sounds like a non animal thing .

This was a first time seeing something of this nature, and that is why I asked.
Again Thanks !

Jim