Tracking - Midterm Flashcards

1
Q

What is the “WIDTH” of a track?

A
  • measured by the broadest point of the track
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the “LENGTH” of a track?

A
  • measured from the leading edge of the toe pad to the trailing point of the print (claws NOT included)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the “STRIDE”?

A
  • distance from where one foot print appears to the next by the same foot
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is “STRADDLE”?

A
  • perpendicular to the line of travel at the widest point of the trail or group pattern
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is “GROUP MEASUREMENTS”?

A
  • when the animal speeds up, pattern changes.. widest measurement of a group of prints
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is “INTERGROUP MEASUREMENTS”?

A
  • distance between the groups of prints
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which feet are generally larger, front or hind?

A
  • FRONT
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Key characteristics of tracks belonging to the dog family.

A
  • NON retractive claws normally seen in track
  • 4 toes
  • Shape is longer than wide, appears rectangular
  • Single lobe on anterior side (top) of the planter pad (middle)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How do you distinguish between a wolf and a coyote track?

A
  • Size (Wolf 4.5 in wide, coyote 2.5in wide)
  • Coyote outer toes bigger than middle toes
  • May be able to tell by hip to shoulder length stride
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Key characteristics of tracks belonging to the cat family.

A
  • RETRACTIVE claws, not normally seen in tracks (sometimes when running)
  • 4 toes
  • Overall shape, wider than long (appear round)
  • Planter pad has 2 lobes anteriorly and 3 lobes posteriorly
  • Common gate is the walk, short bursts of running
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How do you distinguish between a lynx and a cougar?

A
  • Lynx have much larger front paws, and many times can not distinguish front prints due to so much fur
  • Cougar has clear, robust prints, wider than long
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Key characteristics of tracks belonging to the bear family.

A
  • 5 toes on each foot, smallest toe on inside may not show
  • Claws often show in black bears, usually in grizzly’s, and not often in polar bears
  • Hind foot larger and distinctively different to front
  • Metatarsal pad forms distinct heal on hind foot giving rectangular, human shaped foot
  • Front foot is square like and intermediate pad is followed by metacarpal pad
  • Gait usually walk
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do you distinguish between a black bear and a grizzly bear?

A
  • Size, black bear smaller
  • Often claws do not show on black bear but do on grizzly
  • Greater arch in toes of black bear, and joining of toes in grizzly bear
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Key characteristics of the weasel family

A
  • 5 toes on both front and hind feet
  • Well developed claws often showing in print
  • Spacing between toes generally 1 - 3 - 1
  • Planter pad making inverted v
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is different about the gait of the weasel family?

A
  • Toes are at an angle, run sideways

- Hind feet leap into front prints

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Key characteristics of ungulates

A
  • “even toed” 2 toes
  • Bison: bean shaped, very rounded
  • Caribou: also bean shaped, and rounded shape, hind print tends to register over the front prints
  • Moose: teardrop shape, close together, pointed tips
  • Elk: similar to moose, slightly more round in shape, often drag marks
  • Deer: similar to elk, but smaller in size
17
Q

What else can be used to distinguish between the order artiodactyla other than tracks? (2)

A
  • Stride length (distance from hip to shoulder)

- Scat

18
Q

How do you distinguish scat from the DOG family?

A
  • bound together (cohesive unit)
  • long wispy tails at the ends
  • wild dog has lots of hair in scat
19
Q

How do you distinguish scat from the CAT family?

A
  • rounded, individual segments
  • NO long wispy tails
  • often burried
20
Q

How do you distinguish scat from the WEASEL family?

A
  • oily and twisted
  • dark black
  • often on top of rocks
21
Q

How do you distinguish scat from the UNGULATE family? (moose, elk, deer, bison)

A
  • oval to rounded shape
  • deer is shaped like hershey’s kiss, flat on one side, pointed on the other
  • moose is very large