How to read and follow animal tracks
  • 1. What is the primary goal when tracking animals?
A) To disturb the animal's habitat.
B) To capture or harm the animal.
C) To identify the animal but ignore its activities.
D) To understand the animal's behavior and movement.
  • 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 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) Pace
B) Trot
C) Gallop
D) Bound
  • 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 width of the trackway.
D) The length of the footprint.
  • 6. What does 'substrate' refer to in tracking?
A) The tracking tools being used.
B) The animal's habitat.
C) The surface on which the tracks are found.
D) The animal's diet.
  • 7. Which substrate is best for preserving clear tracks?
A) Dry sand
B) Hard-packed snow
C) Mud
D) Dry rock
  • 8. What can scat (animal droppings) tell you?
A) Diet, health, and sometimes species.
B) Only the animal's age.
C) Nothing useful about the animal.
D) Only the animal's size.
  • 9. What is a 'trackway'?
A) A single, isolated footprint.
B) An area where animals frequently feed.
C) A collection of animal bones.
D) A series of consecutive tracks left by an animal.
  • 10. How can you estimate the size of an animal from its tracks?
A) By measuring the distance between trees.
B) By comparing track size to known averages for the species.
C) By looking at the color of the surrounding vegetation.
D) Track size is not related to animal size.
  • 11. What does 'overstep' mean in animal tracking?
A) The hind foot lands directly on top of the front foot.
B) The hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
C) The feet never overlap.
D) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
  • 12. What does 'register' mean in animal tracking?
A) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
B) The hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
C) The hind foot lands directly on top of the front foot.
D) The feet never overlap.
  • 13. Which tool is most useful for accurately measuring tracks?
A) Shovel
B) Ruler or measuring tape
C) Binoculars
D) Compass
  • 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) Leave food scraps for the animals.
B) Make loud noises to scare away predators.
C) Move quietly and avoid approaching animals.
D) Chase after the animals to get a closer look.
  • 16. Which of these is NOT a factor in track identification?
A) The size and shape of the track.
B) The weather forecast for next week.
C) The gait pattern.
D) The location where the track was found.
  • 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) Small horns on the feet of some animals.
B) Sharp claws used for climbing trees.
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 animal's weight
B) The animal's speed
C) The substrate
D) All of the above
  • 20. What does 'direct register' mean?
A) The print is very clear and easy to identify.
B) The animal is moving directly towards you.
C) Hind foot lands precisely in the print of the forefoot
D) The animal is moving in a straight line.
  • 21. What is the best way to learn to identify animal tracks?
A) Only watching videos online.
B) Guessing based on intuition.
C) Only reading books about tracking.
D) Practice in the field and consult field guides.
  • 22. How can you tell if a track is fresh?
A) Faded color and blurry edges.
B) Filled with debris and leaves.
C) Sharp edges and undisturbed substrate.
D) Located in a frequently traveled area.
  • 23. What can drag marks next to a track indicate?
A) The animal was injured or carrying something.
B) The substrate was very soft.
C) The animal was moving very quickly.
D) The animal was trying to hide its tracks.
  • 24. What should you do if you find evidence of poaching or illegal activity?
A) Ignore it to avoid getting involved.
B) Report it to the appropriate authorities.
C) Move the evidence to protect the animals.
D) Take matters into your own hands.
  • 25. What type of footprint is common to felines?
A) Retractable claws, four toes
B) Retractable claws, five toes
C) Non-retractable claws, four toes
D) Non-retractable claws, five toes
  • 26. What type of footprint is common to canines?
A) Non-retractable claws, four toes
B) Retractable claws, four toes
C) Retractable claws, five toes
D) Non-retractable claws, five toes
  • 27. What does track 'aging' refer to?
A) Estimating how long ago the track was made.
B) Making tracks look older than they are.
C) Identifying the age of the animal that made the track.
D) The process of animals naturally wearing down their paws.
  • 28. What information could you gather by observing a trackway crossing a road?
A) The exact number of animals crossing.
B) The animal's current location.
C) The time of day the animal likely crossed.
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) Walk quietly and try to avoid bears.
C) Carry bear spray and make noise.
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.
Created with That Quiz — where test making and test taking are made easy for math and other subject areas.