THE SHIT

You can tell a lot from shit.  To be official, we need to use the word “scat” for wildlife shit.  Scat could be confused with the super awesome improvisational jazz.  But don’t do that.  Focus on scat shit. 

You need to know your scat.  Imagine you are in the wilderness and discover scat.  You need to know if that scat belongs to a large predator so you can plan to freak out appropriately. 

So, here are some scat basics.  If it has hair in it, then that scat belongs to a predator or a scavenger because obviously they ate something furry.  If it has seed or bits of undigested plants that scat belongs to an herbivore.  If it has insect parts then it belongs to an insectivore.  Then you have those animals that eat, plants and animals (including insects).  Those are omnivores. 

The size of the scat corresponds directly with the size of the animal.  A big animal will have a big anus (hole where shit comes out of) and a small animal will have a small anus and therefore small scat. 

You can also tell the approximate age of scat.  If the scat is steaming then it is very fresh.  If it looks moist then it probably has been shat within the past few hours.  If it is white and crumbling then it is likely old scat.  The exception is birds.  Many of them have white scat even when it is fresh.

Note the location of the scat.  If it is in the middle of the trail or road then it is a canine (most likely a dog or coyote).  Canines like to mark their territory by leaving scat in obvious spaces.  Bobcats and mountain lions, like house cats, are more discrete.  Bears poop in the woods just in case you were wondering.  Deer poop everywhere except perhaps trails and roads. 

Certainly, you will want to get out there and practice your scat basic knowledge and expand on it!  Like anything, there is an etiquette.  First, don’t step in it; destroying your potential to study it.  Don’t touch it with your hands.  If you really must mess with it, get a stick to poke at it.  I generally recommend you don’t lean over to smell it and never taste it - ICK!  If you don’t know your scat, then take a picture of it.  You need something in the picture that you can use as a size reference.  Otherwise you could forget and think that bunny poop was ginormous.  Most folks place something as a size reference in the picture.  Pocket knives are often in photos.  I use my wedding ring.  It is always with me and it reminds me that my husband is the shit.  In a super awesome way.  Love you honey!