So, I was on the Scenic Trail in MMRP this weekend, and for some reason started counting poops. (Maybe because I am part German.) I did not see any doggie walkers, but kept seeing these poops that looked like they came from a medium sized dog. Then, at one point, I saw a pile about a yard off the trail, that looked the same as the others, except like three dogs had gone there. That got me thinking that maybe what I saw was not dog poops, but coyote poops. Anyway, what pointers do you have for poop identification?
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Ah scat ID. I actually take photos of the scat and tracks I find on backpacking trips to send to my friend's little boys. They love the concept of IDing an animal by it's poop. They have the book, Who Pooped in the Park? Grand Canyon National Park by Gary D. Robson. Pretty scat-tastic.
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They were the size, color and shape of older dog doo, but some seemed to have -- without getting to close a look -- some grassy bits in them. I may have to pick up that Scats & Tracks book. Thanx!
http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored.
kingsnake wrote:I may have to pick up that Scats & Tracks book.
I picked up 4 different 'A Pocket Naturalist Guide' fold-outs at the Mesa Forest Ranger station for $5 each. I like them because they fold down to 4" x 8" and are plasticized so I can carry them in my pack or even shirt pocket without worrying about getting them soaked.
The ones I bought are Animal Tracks, Arizona Wildlife, Arizona Birds and Arizona Trees & Wildflowers.
The one that would help most in your case would be Animal Tracks, which provides simplified field reference to familiar animal tracks. It includes photos of 54 animals and their tracks, 18 bird tracks, 10 'animal signs' (ex. squirrel midden) as well as 11 types of scat. It even includes a ruler along the edge of the last page for convenient measuring of tracks you encounter.
Oftentimes you'll see the poops (yes, poops) in a location that seems to be NOT selected randomly, e.g. was specifically chosen to mark territory. For example, out by the Usery Mtns I once saw a nearly-perfectly square-shaped rock (about 8-10" cubed) with canid poops (yes, poops again) deposited on it -- very likely coyote. Beavers like to poop on logs that have fallen down across rivers/streams.
I mean, think about it: If you pooped out in the wilderness ALL THE TIME, wouldn't you start pooping in strategic places to send a message to other people that might want to make poops in your territory?
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Sarae wrote:Ah scat ID. I actually take photos of the scat and tracks I find on backpacking trips to send to my friend's little boys. They love the concept of IDing an animal by it's poop. They have the book, Who Pooped in the Park? Grand Canyon National Park by Gary D. Robson. Pretty scat-tastic.
My 4 year old daughter is the same way!! I take pics of poop for her all the time on my trips
Then, at one point, I saw a pile about a yard off the trail, that looked the same as the others, except like three dogs had gone there. That got me thinking that maybe what I saw was not dog poops, but coyote poops. Anyway, what pointers do you have for poop identification? 
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