Droppings or scat can take on a variety of colors, shapes and sizes even when deposited by the same animal.
Amorphous or globular droppings are typically the result of the animal having diarrhea or a diet extremely rich in meat and blood. Carefully inspect to scat to see if hair or bone fragments are present as these will signify that it was left by a carnivore.
If the droppings are Tubular or Pelleted, click the appropriate link below
Photo compliments of Jennifer Schloth. Note the size of the droppings in comparison to the shovel. Bear droppings can be huge. They can also exhibit a wide variety of colors depending on what the bear is eating.
Be sure to measure diameter of scat as it is useful to distinguish from other droppings.
Droppings tend to be several inches long, full of animal hair (particularly in the winter time when fruit is not available) and dark due to the coagulated animal blood of their prey. Droppings will also be frequently located at strategic locations such as cross roads and along trails as coyotes use their droppings to mark territory. Distinguish from black bear droppings by size (bears leave much larger scats) and by the lack of tracks.
Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
White-tailed deer frequently have droppings that clump. Note that the pellets are still visible. But instead of being scattered, they congeal together forming a lump. Photo courtesy of Roger Barcus.
Frog
Note the tubular aspect of the dropping. Droppings will also frequently have insect parts inside. Droppings this size are from large frogs common in the southern portions of the United States.
Typically will be found each day and will lack white caps typical of lizard and
bird droppings.
Although raccoon droppings are typically tubular, 2-3 inches long with blunt ends (like a dog's),
their scat can be more amorphous if their diet is rich in fruit or fresh meat.
Carefully look for undigested food remnants as these are key clues that the scat
is raccoon. (Image below; courtesy of Richard Chapman). Photo at lower right
(courtesy of Harold Yazell) shows raccoon scat full of fruit seeds.
Caution!! Raccoon feces may contain a dangerous roundworm. To learn more about Raccoon roundworm click diseases Raccoons also defecate in the same location. These are called toilettes or latrines. The fecal pile, pictured at the right, was found on a residential roof in Longmeadow, MA.
