Scat Identification Thread

Use this thread to help identify wildlife poop!

Could someone help me identify this poop?

I live in New York.

Thanks in advance!

Herbivore.  Mammal.  Probably something that usually makes pelettes but had a recent diet change.

Meat rich diet would have pointy ends.  Omnivores poop looks more like humans.  Non mammals are harder to identify.

I don't know the local area so I don't know your animals.  Size makes a difference too so if you ever get a chance to include something for scale (an American quarter was what we kept in our pocket for scat photography as the size is pretty widely known around the world), it will help others narrow it down.

Do you have horses or donkeys in your area?  I would guess donkey and ask Mr Google who confirm my suggestion.

Some dropping or manure are firm balls though other when loose look just like that.

I saw some picture of Elk pellets that did resemble that when more of a loose stool.

Good question...and a great idea for a thread.  I am often stymied by what I find around here. I found this site: https://www.thinktrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scat-Identification.pdf but I didn't see anything that resembled your sample.  I've also tried the Vt. Fish and Game site, but they don't have a category on their website; I emailed with that suggestion, but I guess they have better things to do!
On this site, the closest would be bear without the fruit throughout: https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/documents/scat-card-f.pdf
Any animal tracks in the general vicinity? Let us know if you figure it out.
Meanwhile, here's a game you can play: https://scoutlife.org/quizzes/153553/can-you-identify-this-animal-poop/  I did horribly; better on the second time through, but still nothing I care to share!

around here I would be sure it is elk. unsure of size of the sample - so maybe I wouldn't!,  also, i don't know what is normally around any part of New York.and what is in your area!

It looks a bit like groundhog poop, but I'm no expert...

Looks like black bear to me.

Barbara Simoes wrote: Meanwhile, here's a game you can play...

That was quite a cute little game. I got caught by the goose poop one because my geese don't lay such dark poop, nor in such a nice neat pile. I'll blame some of my other troubles on "not in my ecosystem". I have paid some attention to what lives in my area, because that's important to the safety of my domestic animals. Some of the differences are pretty subtle!

And yes, deer are normally similar to rabbit pellets but a bit bigger, except under some conditions when it's more like a mini cow pat.

Sara Sprinkle wrote:Looks like black bear to me.

Black bear tends to look more human, depending on what they have been eating.  I suppose if he's only eaten plants for the last few weeks, it could look like this.

If it was in my yard, I would blame the goat.  But knowing the size makes it much easier to figure out.

Huh. I immediately thought cow. Tho maybe small, if I use what looks like ground ivy as the size marker.

When my goats have gotten too much fresh pasture, that's exactly what they produce. Since they are similar to deer, it's possible some deer have feasted too much on new spring grass growth. (Obviously just a guess!)

That's almost exactly what one of the sheep here is leaving, as opposed to the nice little round berries they pop out when their gut is tuned right. Maybe a deer that's been eating too many succulent vegetables and needs more roughage in its menu?

I'm surprised this is the first time I've seen someone shitposting at permies.

It gives me the impression of something that's been eating garbage. Either a small black bear or racoon? Perhaps an ungulate being fed more than it is grazing?

Is this supposed to be done like a sort of scat-tag game? Here's one similar with a bit more structure. The hand is a size 9 glove with long fingers- middle finger 3.75in or 9.5cm base to tip. Taken in northern WI mid September of '22.

I have found a new pile and have applied some feedback



I have seen quite a few woodchucks, but I am suspect that perhaps there is a deer visiting due to some nibbled pea plants up high.

Coydon Wallham wrote:Is this supposed to be done like a sort of scat-tag game? Here's one similar with a bit more structure. The hand is a size 9 glove with long fingers- middle finger 3.75in or 9.5cm base to tip. Taken in northern WI mid September of '22.

Thanks for the details! The structured format definitely helps for comparison. Noted on the glove size and location—great reference point for scale.