How to read and follow animal tracks - Exam
  • 1. What is the primary goal when tracking animals?
A) To capture or harm the animal.
B) To understand the animal's behavior and movement.
C) To identify the animal but ignore its activities.
D) To disturb the animal's habitat.
  • 2. What is the first thing you should do when you find a track?
A) Identify the track type and species if possible.
B) Erase the track to prevent others from seeing it.
C) Guess what animal made it.
D) Immediately follow the tracks.
  • 3. What does 'gait' refer to in tracking?
A) The pattern of footfalls as an animal moves.
B) The physical appearance of the animal's foot.
C) The sound the animal makes while walking.
D) The speed at which the animal is moving.
  • 4. Which gait is characterized by a diagonal pattern of footfalls?
A) Bound
B) Gallop
C) Pace
D) Trot
  • 5. What is 'straddle' in relation to animal tracks?
A) The depth of the track in the substrate.
B) The angle of the track relative to the direction of travel.
C) The length of the footprint.
D) The width of the trackway.
  • 6. What does 'substrate' refer to in tracking?
A) The tracking tools being used.
B) The animal's habitat.
C) The animal's diet.
D) The surface on which the tracks are found.
  • 7. Which substrate is best for preserving clear tracks?
A) Dry sand
B) Hard-packed snow
C) Dry rock
D) Mud
  • 8. What can scat (animal droppings) tell you?
A) Diet, health, and sometimes species.
B) Nothing useful about the animal.
C) Only the animal's age.
D) Only the animal's size.
  • 9. What is a 'trackway'?
A) A series of consecutive tracks left by an animal.
B) A collection of animal bones.
C) A single, isolated footprint.
D) An area where animals frequently feed.
  • 10. How can you estimate the size of an animal from its tracks?
A) By comparing track size to known averages for the species.
B) By measuring the distance between trees.
C) Track size is not related to animal size.
D) By looking at the color of the surrounding vegetation.
  • 11. What does 'overstep' mean in animal tracking?
A) The hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
B) The feet never overlap.
C) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
D) The hind foot lands directly on top of the front foot.
  • 12. What does 'register' mean in animal tracking?
A) The hind foot lands directly on top of the front foot.
B) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
C) The hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
D) The feet never overlap.
  • 13. Which tool is most useful for accurately measuring tracks?
A) Ruler or measuring tape
B) Compass
C) Shovel
D) Binoculars
  • 14. How should you document tracks you find?
A) Only measure them.
B) Photograph, measure, and sketch them.
C) Only photograph them.
D) Erase them after you examine them.
  • 15. What should you do to avoid disturbing wildlife while tracking?
A) Chase after the animals to get a closer look.
B) Make loud noises to scare away predators.
C) Move quietly and avoid approaching animals.
D) Leave food scraps for the animals.
  • 16. Which of these is NOT a factor in track identification?
A) The gait pattern.
B) The weather forecast for next week.
C) The size and shape of the track.
D) The location where the track was found.
  • 17. What is the best time of day to look for tracks?
A) Any time, it doesn't matter.
B) Early morning or late evening
C) During heavy rain
D) Midday when the sun is strongest
  • 18. What are dew claws?
A) Patches of fur on the paws.
B) Sharp claws used for climbing trees.
C) Extra toes on the leg of some animals.
D) Small horns on the feet of some animals.
  • 19. Which of the following can affect the appearance of a track?
A) The animal's speed
B) The animal's weight
C) All of the above
D) The substrate
  • 20. What does 'direct register' mean?
A) Hind foot lands precisely in the print of the forefoot
B) The animal is moving in a straight line.
C) The print is very clear and easy to identify.
D) The animal is moving directly towards you.
  • 21. What is the best way to learn to identify animal tracks?
A) Guessing based on intuition.
B) Practice in the field and consult field guides.
C) Only watching videos online.
D) Only reading books about tracking.
  • 22. How can you tell if a track is fresh?
A) Located in a frequently traveled area.
B) Sharp edges and undisturbed substrate.
C) Filled with debris and leaves.
D) Faded color and blurry edges.
  • 23. What can drag marks next to a track indicate?
A) The animal was injured or carrying something.
B) The animal was moving very quickly.
C) The animal was trying to hide its tracks.
D) The substrate was very soft.
  • 24. What should you do if you find evidence of poaching or illegal activity?
A) Move the evidence to protect the animals.
B) Take matters into your own hands.
C) Report it to the appropriate authorities.
D) Ignore it to avoid getting involved.
  • 25. What type of footprint is common to felines?
A) Non-retractable claws, four toes
B) Retractable claws, five toes
C) Retractable claws, four toes
D) Non-retractable claws, five toes
  • 26. What type of footprint is common to canines?
A) Retractable claws, five toes
B) Non-retractable claws, four toes
C) Non-retractable claws, five toes
D) Retractable claws, four toes
  • 27. What does track 'aging' refer to?
A) The process of animals naturally wearing down their paws.
B) Identifying the age of the animal that made the track.
C) Making tracks look older than they are.
D) Estimating how long ago the track was made.
  • 28. What information could you gather by observing a trackway crossing a road?
A) The exact number of animals crossing.
B) The animal's favorite food.
C) The animal's current location.
D) The time of day the animal likely crossed.
  • 29. What safety precautions should you take while tracking in bear country?
A) Run away if you see a bear.
B) Carry bear spray and make noise.
C) Walk quietly and try to avoid bears.
D) Offer bears food to gain their trust.
  • 30. What is the best way to avoid confusing different animal tracks?
A) Practice regularly and use a field guide to compare.
B) Assume all tracks in an area are from the same animal.
C) Only track in areas with limited species.
D) Rely on intuition to identify tracks.
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