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