General Characteristics for Identification
Observing animal droppings, or scat, helps understand local wildlife. Physical attributes—size, shape, color, texture, and contents—provide valuable identification clues, varying among species. Experts combine visual inspection with other analyses for accurate identification.
Scat size and shape narrow down potential animals. Larger animals produce larger scat; specific shapes—cylindrical, pellet-like, or twisted—indicate species and digestive system. Deer scat often appears as small pellets; coyote scat is typically tubular.
Scat color indicates diet and deposition time. Meat-rich diets yield darker brown or black scat; vegetation leads to lighter, sometimes greenish or pale brown hues. Texture and consistency, from firm and dry to soft and moist, depend on diet and digestive processes.
Scat contents reveal an animal’s diet. Visible elements like fur, bones, seeds, insect parts, or plant fibers indicate dietary habits. Carnivore scat frequently contains hair and bone fragments; herbivore scat is often fibrous and plant-filled.
Identifying Mammal Scat
Mammal scat varies widely, categorized by diet: carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore. These habits directly influence morphology and contents, aiding identification.
Carnivore Scat
Carnivore scat is typically tubular, often with tapered or twisted ends. It is usually firm, frequently containing undigested hair, bone fragments, or insect parts. Coyote scat, for instance, is rope-like with tapered ends, often containing fur and bones. Bobcat scat can be segmented with blunt ends, also containing hair and bones. Fox scat is generally smaller and more twisted than coyote scat, sometimes containing hair, bones, or berries.
Herbivore Scat
Herbivore scat is frequently pelleted, round, or oblong, reflecting a plant-based diet. These droppings are often uniform in size, fibrous, and range from light brown to greenish. Deer scat, for example, consists of small, oval pellets, scattered or clumped depending on diet moisture. Rabbit scat forms small, round pellets, typically dark to light brown with a rough texture.
Omnivore Scat
Omnivore scat varies most in appearance, as diets include both plant and animal matter. It can be irregular in shape, often containing diverse food remnants. Raccoon scat, for instance, is blunt-ended and uniform in thickness, often containing berries, seeds, corn, or crayfish parts. Bear scat varies significantly by diet, from solid, dark pellets (meat) to large, tubular droppings filled with seeds, berries, or grass.
Identifying Bird and Reptile Droppings
Bird and reptile droppings have distinct features. A key characteristic is uric acid, excreted as a white, pasty substance. Birds and reptiles convert nitrogenous waste into uric acid, minimizing water loss.
Bird droppings commonly have a “splatter” appearance, with a dark fecal portion and a prominent white uric acid cap. Fecal consistency and color vary by diet; fruit-eating birds’ droppings might differ from insect-eaters’. Unlike mammals, bird waste expels through a single opening, the cloaca, combining fecal and liquid waste.
Reptile droppings, such as from lizards and snakes, often feature a white uric acid cap, similar to birds. Lizard droppings typically appear as small, dark pellets with a dry, firmly attached white cap. Snake droppings, while also containing a white uric acid cap, tend to be more liquid than solid, often appearing as streaks along longer deposits. They may also include indigestible remains like fur, bones, or feathers from prey.
Using Habitat and Diet for Identification
Beyond scat’s physical characteristics, the surrounding environment provides crucial context for accurate identification. Scat location significantly narrows possibilities. For example, scat near water suggests aquatic animals; droppings in trees or open fields point to species adapted to those habitats. Knowledge of local wildlife and preferred dwelling areas is invaluable.
Dietary evidence near scat offers clues about the animal. Nearby food sources—chewed plants, gnawed nuts, or animal remains—can confirm or refine dietary assumptions from scat contents. Scat with berries under a berry bush, for instance, strengthens the conclusion of a berry-eating animal. This approach considers both direct scat evidence and indirect environmental clues.
Observing animal tracks or trails near scat provides additional supporting evidence. Tracks confirm a species’ presence and, in some cases, help determine animal size or direction of travel. Combining these environmental clues with scat analysis enhances identification, creating a more complete picture of wildlife activity.
Safe and Ethical Observation
Observing animal scat requires careful attention to personal safety and wildlife ethics. Avoid touching scat with bare hands due to potential pathogens, bacteria, and parasites like Salmonella or roundworms. Always use disposable gloves if direct interaction is necessary, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and hot water afterward to reduce health risks. A face mask or respirator can protect against inhaling airborne particles or dust from dried droppings.
Respect for wildlife and habitats is important during observation. Avoid disturbing animals or their environment; human presence can alter natural behaviors or cause stress. Maintaining a respectful distance and leaving findings undisturbed contributes to ethical wildlife interaction, ensuring observations do not negatively impact animals or ecosystems.
For documentation, taking photographs is recommended over collecting samples without proper precautions. High-quality photos can be used for later identification or shared with experts for verification, allowing study without direct handling. If collecting samples is necessary for scientific analysis, use appropriate tools, protective gear, and understand local regulations, often involving permits and ethical review.