How to read and follow animal tracks - Exam
  • 1. What is the primary goal when tracking animals?
A) To identify the animal but ignore its activities.
B) To capture or harm the animal.
C) To disturb the animal's habitat.
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) Immediately follow the tracks.
C) Guess what animal made it.
D) Erase the track to prevent others from seeing it.
  • 3. What does 'gait' refer to in tracking?
A) The speed at which the animal is moving.
B) The physical appearance of the animal's foot.
C) The sound the animal makes while walking.
D) The pattern of footfalls as an animal moves.
  • 4. Which gait is characterized by a diagonal pattern of footfalls?
A) Pace
B) Trot
C) Bound
D) Gallop
  • 5. What is 'straddle' in relation to animal tracks?
A) The angle of the track relative to the direction of travel.
B) The length of the footprint.
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 surface on which the tracks are found.
B) The tracking tools being used.
C) The animal's habitat.
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) Nothing useful about the animal.
C) Only the animal's age.
D) Only the animal's size.
  • 9. What is a 'trackway'?
A) An area where animals frequently feed.
B) A collection of animal bones.
C) A single, isolated footprint.
D) A series of consecutive tracks left by an animal.
  • 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 hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
B) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
C) The feet never overlap.
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 feet never overlap.
C) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
D) The hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
  • 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) Erase them after you examine them.
D) Only photograph 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) Leave food scraps for the animals.
D) Move quietly and avoid approaching animals.
  • 16. Which of these is NOT a factor in track identification?
A) The gait pattern.
B) The size and shape of the track.
C) The weather forecast for next week.
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) Small horns on the feet of some animals.
B) Sharp claws used for climbing trees.
C) Patches of fur on the paws.
D) Extra toes on the leg of some animals.
  • 19. Which of the following can affect the appearance of a track?
A) The substrate
B) All of the above
C) The animal's weight
D) The animal's speed
  • 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) Only reading books about tracking.
B) Only watching videos online.
C) Guessing based on intuition.
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) Sharp edges and undisturbed substrate.
C) Filled with debris and leaves.
D) Located in a frequently traveled area.
  • 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) 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, four toes
C) Non-retractable claws, five toes
D) Retractable claws, five toes
  • 26. What type of footprint is common to canines?
A) Retractable claws, four toes
B) Retractable claws, five toes
C) Non-retractable claws, four toes
D) Non-retractable claws, five toes
  • 27. What does track 'aging' refer to?
A) The process of animals naturally wearing down their paws.
B) Estimating how long ago the track was made.
C) Making tracks look older than they are.
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 time of day the animal likely crossed.
B) The animal's favorite food.
C) The animal's current location.
D) The exact number of animals crossing.
  • 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) Walk quietly and try to avoid bears.
D) Carry bear spray and make noise.
  • 30. What is the best way to avoid confusing different animal tracks?
A) Only track in areas with limited species.
B) Rely on intuition to identify tracks.
C) Practice regularly and use a field guide to compare.
D) Assume all tracks in an area are from the same animal.
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