Wildlife Tracking

Question 1

Can you always correctly identify the mammal that left the tracks?

Answer 1

No, sometimes there aren’t enough clues. Clues can be too old or too ambiguous.

Question 2

Define: Width of a track

Answer 2

Broadest point of the print

Question 3

Define: Length of a track

Answer 3

Leading edge of toe pad to trailing point of print

Question 4

Define: Stride

Answer 4

The distance from where one foot appears in a trail to the next point that the same foot makes contact

Question 5

Define: Straddle

Answer 5

Measured perpendicular to the line of travel at the widest point of a trail or group pattern

Question 6

Define: Group measurements

Answer 6

A pattern left behind when an animal travels fast, measured from leading end of one pattern to the trailing end of the same pattern

Question 7

Define intergroup measurements

Answer 7

Distance between groups

Question 8

Which feet are typically larger? front or hind?

Answer 8

Front

Question 9

Key characteristics of dog family tracks

Answer 9

• 4 toes
• 4 claws, don’t always show
• Front feet larger than hind feet
• Triangular shaped

Question 10

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

Answer 10

• Coyote tracks are less robust than wolf tracks, outer toe looks larger on coyote and inner toe looks larger on wolf

Question 11

Key characteristics of cat family tracks

Answer 11

• 4 toes
• Sharp, curved claws – usually don’t appear in tracks as they are retractile
• Front feet larger than hind feet
• Two lobes on the front of the plantar pad

Question 12

How do you distinguish between a lynx and a mountain lion track?

Answer 12

• They have the same size track roughly

* Lynx are lighter, so they won’t sink as deep into the snow

Question 13

Key characteristics of tracks belonging to the bear family

Answer 13

• Five toes, smallest toe on inside (opposite of humans)
• Claws can show in black bears and grizzlies, not often showing in polar bears
• Hind foot has a distinct heel like a human
• Front foot has a square pad with a small metacarpal pad behind it

Question 14

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

Answer 14

• Black bears have an “arc” of toes, grizzly toes are all connected and close
• Grizzly tracks generally larger than black bear

Question 15

Key characteristics of weasel family tracks

Answer 15

• Five toes, 1-3-1 spacing
• Digging mustelids have well-developed claws
Might need to add some more here?

Question 16

What is unique about the bounding gait of the weasel family?

Answer 16

• Hind feet are placed directly on top of the front feet prints

Question 17

What is the 1-2-1x lope pattern common to larger members of the weasel family?

Answer 17

Used for galloping

Question 18

Key characteristics of ungulate tracks

Answer 18

• 2 toed
• No claws, hooves instead
• Front feet larger than hind feet

Question 19

What is the average shape of the deer family track and how do they vary from the bovids and caribou?

Answer 19

• Deer = heart shaped

* Caribou prints are rounded and look like a bean

Question 20

Is it possible to distinguish among species by tracks alone in the order artiodactyla? What else is needed for identification?

Answer 20

Habitat is also needed for consideration

Question 21

Dog family scat characteristics

Answer 21

• Thick cords, occasionally folded
• The end of the scat that leaves the anus often has a pointed tail
• Diet is apparent in scat

Question 22

Cat family scat characteristics

Answer 22

• Broken cords

Question 23

Weasel family scat characteristics

Answer 23

• Folded cords with long tails at both ends

Question 24

Ungulate family scat characteristics

Answer 24

• Pellets