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Tracking
Quizzes
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Quiz #39 - Question
by Brian Booth |
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| Here’s a relatively challenging quiz involving an animal that doesn’t
always leave clear footprints, and whose tracks can easily be confused with
several other animals. This animal is essential in learning to become a
skilled tracker. |
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Photo 39A Habitat: A grove of
hemlocks and pines in mixed woodlands (coniferous and deciduous
trees), on the border of eastern Rhode Island and southern
Massachusetts (Photo 39A). Time of year: December. |
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Photo 39B Photo 39B shows an
animal trail through some deep, fresh snow that was deposited by a
classic “Nor’Easter” storm, well known to people who live in New
England. |
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Photo 39C Photo 39C shows a
segment of the trail viewed from directly above. The stride ranged
from 23 to 25 inches, and the trail width was 7 inches. |
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Photo 39D Photo 39D is zoomed
in on the pair of tracks seen in Photo 39A. |
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Photo 39E Photo 39E is zoomed
in on a second pair of representative tracks along the animal’s
trail. |
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Photo 39F Photos 39F / 39G
are zoomed in on the individual prints in this pair. |
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Photo 39G |
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Photo 39H Photos 39H / 39J / 39K are similarly zoomed in on a third representative
pair of tracks.
The length of the tracks measured approximately from 3¼ to 3 7/8 inches, but
it was difficult to put numbers on this due to the heels and legs of the
animal leaving long entry trenches through the deep, soft snow. The width of
the tracks could be measured more accurately, ranging from 2½ to 3 inches. |
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Photo 39J |
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Photo 39K |
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Photo 39L Photo 39L shows a spot where the animal investigated a tree trunk, and
marked its presence with a pungent odor. If you can’t smell it, put your
nose up close to your screen. (Just kidding. Trust me – it was sharp odor.) |
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Photo 39M Photo 39M is zoomed in on the most prominent track next to the tree. |
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Questions:
- What animal made the tracks?
- Along the animal’s main trail (prior to stopping to scent-mark the tree),
what type of gait was the animal using? Why was it using this gait?
- Along the animal’s main trail, which prints are the front feet and which
are the hind feet?
- Was this a male or female?
- List two reasons why the features of the tracks are so indistinct.
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