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How to read and follow animal tracks
Contributed by: Kay
  • 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) Erase the track to prevent others from seeing it.
B) Guess what animal made it.
C) Immediately follow the tracks.
D) Identify the track type and species if possible.
  • 3. What does 'gait' refer to in tracking?
A) The physical appearance of the animal's foot.
B) The speed at which the animal is moving.
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) Gallop
B) Bound
C) Pace
D) Trot
  • 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 depth of the track in the substrate.
D) The width of the trackway.
  • 6. What does 'substrate' refer to in tracking?
A) The animal's habitat.
B) The tracking tools being used.
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 size.
C) Nothing useful about the animal.
D) Only the animal's age.
  • 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 looking at the color of the surrounding vegetation.
B) Track size is not related to animal size.
C) By measuring the distance between trees.
D) By comparing track size to known averages for the species.
  • 11. What does 'overstep' 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.
  • 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) Compass
B) Binoculars
C) Ruler or measuring tape
D) Shovel
  • 14. How should you document tracks you find?
A) Photograph, measure, and sketch them.
B) Erase them after you examine them.
C) Only measure them.
D) Only photograph them.
  • 15. What should you do to avoid disturbing wildlife while tracking?
A) Move quietly and avoid approaching animals.
B) Leave food scraps for the animals.
C) Make loud noises to scare away predators.
D) Chase after the animals to get a closer look.
  • 16. Which of these is NOT a factor in track identification?
A) The gait pattern.
B) The weather forecast for next week.
C) The location where the track was found.
D) The size and shape of the track.
  • 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) Midday when the sun is strongest
D) During heavy rain
  • 18. What are dew claws?
A) Sharp claws used for climbing trees.
B) Extra toes on the leg of some animals.
C) Small horns on the feet 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) All of the above
C) The animal's weight
D) The animal's speed
  • 20. What does 'direct register' mean?
A) The print is very clear and easy to identify.
B) Hind foot lands precisely in the print of the forefoot
C) The animal is moving directly towards you.
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) Only reading books about tracking.
C) Only watching videos online.
D) Guessing based on intuition.
  • 22. How can you tell if a track is fresh?
A) Located in a frequently traveled area.
B) Faded color and blurry edges.
C) Filled with debris and leaves.
D) Sharp edges and undisturbed substrate.
  • 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 substrate was very soft.
D) The animal was trying to hide its tracks.
  • 24. What should you do if you find evidence of poaching or illegal activity?
A) Report it to the appropriate authorities.
B) Move the evidence to protect the animals.
C) Take matters into your own hands.
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) Non-retractable claws, five toes
C) Retractable claws, five toes
D) Non-retractable claws, four toes
  • 27. What does track 'aging' refer to?
A) Identifying the age of the animal that made the track.
B) Making tracks look older than they are.
C) The process of animals naturally wearing down their paws.
D) Estimating how long ago the track was made.
  • 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 exact number of animals crossing.
D) The animal's current location.
  • 29. What safety precautions should you take while tracking in bear country?
A) Offer bears food to gain their trust.
B) Walk quietly and try to avoid bears.
C) Carry bear spray and make noise.
D) Run away if you see a bear.
  • 30. What is the best way to avoid confusing different animal tracks?
A) Assume all tracks in an area are from the same animal.
B) Practice regularly and use a field guide to compare.
C) Rely on intuition to identify tracks.
D) Only track in areas with limited species.
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