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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 understand the animal's behavior and movement.
B) To capture or harm the animal.
C) To disturb the animal's habitat.
D) To identify the animal but ignore its activities.
  • 2. What is the first thing you should do when you find a track?
A) Guess what animal made it.
B) Identify the track type and species if possible.
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 sound the animal makes while walking.
B) The physical appearance of the animal's foot.
C) The pattern of footfalls as an animal moves.
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 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 surface on which the tracks are found.
C) The tracking tools being used.
D) The animal's diet.
  • 7. Which substrate is best for preserving clear tracks?
A) Dry rock
B) Dry sand
C) Mud
D) Hard-packed snow
  • 8. What can scat (animal droppings) tell you?
A) Nothing useful about the animal.
B) Diet, health, and sometimes species.
C) Only the animal's size.
D) Only the animal's age.
  • 9. What is a 'trackway'?
A) A collection of animal bones.
B) A single, isolated footprint.
C) An area where animals frequently feed.
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) 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 feet never overlap.
B) The hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
C) The hind foot lands directly on top of the front foot.
D) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
  • 12. What does 'register' mean in animal tracking?
A) The hind foot lands ahead of the front foot.
B) The hind foot lands directly on top of the front foot.
C) The feet never overlap.
D) The front foot lands ahead of the hind foot.
  • 13. Which tool is most useful for accurately measuring tracks?
A) Binoculars
B) Shovel
C) Compass
D) Ruler or measuring tape
  • 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) Move quietly and avoid approaching animals.
B) Chase after the animals to get a closer look.
C) Make loud noises to scare away predators.
D) Leave food scraps for the 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 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) Midday when the sun is strongest
B) Any time, it doesn't matter.
C) During heavy rain
D) Early morning or late evening
  • 18. What are dew claws?
A) Small horns on the feet of some animals.
B) Patches of fur on the paws.
C) Extra toes on the leg of some animals.
D) Sharp claws used for climbing trees.
  • 19. Which of the following can affect the appearance of a track?
A) The animal's speed
B) The substrate
C) The animal's weight
D) All of the above
  • 20. What does 'direct register' mean?
A) The animal is moving in a straight line.
B) The animal is moving directly towards you.
C) The print is very clear and easy to identify.
D) Hind foot lands precisely in the print of the forefoot
  • 21. What is the best way to learn to identify animal tracks?
A) Guessing based on intuition.
B) Only watching videos online.
C) Practice in the field and consult field guides.
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 substrate was very soft.
B) The animal was injured or carrying something.
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) 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) Retractable claws, five toes
B) Non-retractable claws, five toes
C) Non-retractable claws, four toes
D) Retractable claws, four toes
  • 26. What type of footprint is common to canines?
A) Retractable claws, four toes
B) Non-retractable claws, four toes
C) Non-retractable claws, five toes
D) Retractable claws, five toes
  • 27. What does track 'aging' refer to?
A) Identifying the age of the animal that made the track.
B) Estimating how long ago the track was made.
C) Making tracks look older than they are.
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 animal's current location.
B) The animal's favorite food.
C) The exact number of animals crossing.
D) The time of day the animal likely crossed.
  • 29. What safety precautions should you take while tracking in bear country?
A) Offer bears food to gain their trust.
B) Run away if you see a bear.
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) Rely on intuition to identify tracks.
B) Only track in areas with limited species.
C) Assume all tracks in an area are from the same animal.
D) Practice regularly and use a field guide to compare.
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