Scat, droppings, feces, or s&%! No matter what you call it, here’s how to use it as a clue.
A lot of things will lie to you in your life, but not poop. Close examination of animal scat will help you identify not only the species but how recently the animal was there, its sex, what it ate, and even where it might be going.
Below is everything you should know about 11 common critters in the US. So grab a stick, and let’s poke some poop.Coyotes are like kids who want to show you their scat. They leave it in the middle of roads, at trail crossings, and other prominent spots. It’s a way of communicating with other coyotes, both within their pack and to intruders. Coyotes leave tubular scat with tapered ends, often an inch in diameter.
Raccoons range even more widely than foxes and are as common as deflated Mylar balloons. They tend to poop in raccoon “latrines,” using the same area over long periods of time. In the wild, they like the bases of trees, tree forks, or raised areas such as fallen trees. Some experts say that poop on large tree limbs or logs is “definitive” of the critter, but I wouldn’t go that far.
Scat ranges from black to reddish, a function of their omnivorous ways. It also may be bleached to white. The poop is often granular-looking, segmented, tube-shaped, and 2 to 3 inches long. It breaks easily when disturbed. It somewhat resembles dog poop, except it contains more undigested food, like seeds and hair. According to Paula Smith, who is familiar with all kinds of poop, raccoon droppings are “radioactive.
Like other small felines, bobcats frequently scratch a bare spot, defecate, and then cover their scat, although not always effectively. Hiding their scat is thought to be an ancient response to the danger of predation by larger cats. Yet, as with coyotes, bobcats mark their territory by pooping in the middle of trails or at trail intersections. In other words, they’re nuts, trying both to hide their poop and advertise it.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
12 Chicken Noodle Soup Recipes to Warm Your Stomach (and Your Soul)Move over, canned soup.
Read more »
Patrick Wilson shocks with canine confession: ‘I’ve eaten dog poop’When asked about his least favorite smell, the “Little Children” star also brought up his beloved canines.
Read more »
Why young orphans were once used as human refrigeratorsThe Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is back, and it's got human refrigerators, poop knives and bird tongues!
Read more »
What To Make Of Polls That Show Americans Are Trending Toward The GOPAre there really more Americans identifying as Republicans than Democrats now? For decades, more Americans have tended to identify as Democrats than as Republic…
Read more »
Another shoplifter targets NYC Trader Joe’s — one day after thief took steaksThe unnamed man can be seen on video, exclusively taken by The Post, in an aisle at the grocery store’s East 14th Street location shoving two cans of soda into his pants.
Read more »