SCAT and MISCELLANEOUS SIGN

"SCAT" means feces or droppings. It can give you a lot of information. Be careful in handling scat. It can carry parasites. The books by Paul Rezendes, James Halfpenny, Mark Elbroch, and Olaf Murie listed in the Reference page of this web site are excellent for helping you identify scat you have found. Check scat for: Size-- an unreliable indicator of size of animal. Shape-- round? blunt or tapered ends? a plop? Contents-- vegetation? bones and fur? Location-- left out in the middle or the trail? covered with dirt? Odor-- Scat left by herbivores has a pleasant smell compared to that of carnivores or omnivores.
PELLETS Owls and other raptors are unable to chew so they swallow small prey whole. After a while, these birds regurgitate the undigested parts in the form of an oval pellet. The pellets are odorless and consist of fur and bones. You may be able to reassemble the skeleton of a mouse or other small animal from each pellet. Look for pellets under the birds' favorite roosting places.
SIGN POSTS Many animals, such as foxes and muskrats have favorite spots where they urinate, defecate and/or spray with musk. You may develop the ability to distinguish which animal left an odor. Wolverines are infamous for spraying the insides of cabins they have raided.
TRANSPORTED ITEMS A head of hair, carried by some animal along a game trail, led to the eventual discovery of a homicide victim's body. Packrats and magpies carry off shiny items that catch their eye. Many birds use man-made materials in their nests. When you find something out of place, consider how it may have got there.
SOUNDS Observe and learn the normal behavior of the creatures in the areas you explore. When jays mob a sleepy owl, teach yourself to recognize the clatter. When squirrels and birds suddenly fall silent, be aware and alert.
Carpenter Bee Droppings	Fox Scat	Deer Scat

Available food and moisture as well as species of animal affect the appearance of animal droppings or "scat".