Hard to tell from the photos. Bears have toes at the end of their feet. The pics above look more like a feline or possibly a canid.

Tracks in ths now will appear much larger after the snow has melted some.

I wouldn't rule out the tracks being that of a bear, as their hind feet step on their front feet tracks, distorting their shape.

A fresher track would be more helpful

Kt

Thanks. What about the tracks being straight * * * * as opposed to side by side?

It means that it walks, rather than bounds. Whatever animal made these either moves feet on the same side of the body at the same time or moves feet in a diagonal line at the same time (i.e.: left front and right back, or right front and left back). Smaller animals, like squirrels, bound, by moving both front feet or both back feet at the same time. Squirrels actually end up with their back feet in front of their front feet when running.
-Jmcat

Thanks!

Not a bear ... a cougar. By the way ... for those who don't know ... cougar, puma and mountain lion are the same.

The only 3 cats native to North America are the Florida Panther (Looks just like a cougar with a little difference in the face), Mountain Lion and Jaguar (found only in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico). Black Panthers are a South American species. The "black cat" reports in the United States are Mountain Lion in their seasonal color phase and seen in late evening ... giving the appearance of "Black".

Here is a link that might be useful: OK Wildlife Control, LLC

Cougar in NJ? We don't have cougar or mountain lions in NJ. Bobcats and bears maybe.

Most likely a bobcat or lynx. Bobcats are smaller than lynx. They are not that tall but their feet are big and wide so they can run on top of the snow and catch rabbits. Google "lynx" under images and you can find some that show their feet.

Thanks, but there are no lynxes in NJ, and bobcats are small. Maybe it is a bobcat, and the tracks melted, so they appear bigger. The tree was scratched.

I think there is a lot of missinformation on these forums.
Some of these so-called experts are getting info wrong
at times. Not that it is super critical. It just amazes
me.....

Hmmmm. Then why don't YOU educate the forum members? I think it rather unfriendly that you make such a remark but then fail to provide information to shed light on question at hand.

These forums are all about sharing information.

Okie Dokely... Hate to be unfriendly (like some).

This statement is in obvious error.
"Mountain Lion and Jaguar (found only in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico)". Mountain lions are common through most all
western states and western Canada. There is even one
confirmed sighting of a single cat in the upper penninsula
of Michigan. (yes I am aware that some are pets that were
released). But we stray from the point.
Do you feel smarter now?

I'm reasonably certain that the person who posted that comment meant that Jaguars ( and not mountain lions AND jaguars) are found only in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

That's certainly how I read it.