Who Pooped?
Scat Photo: N. Sincero 2011, Scat Wrangler: S. Sumrall
This scat changes depending on the time of year. It consists of many pellets, which may scatter or, when moist, may stick together. It can be found in forested areas on the Pacific Coast.
Who pooped?
Leave a comment below with your guess. We will reveal the answer in the comments section on Tuesday, September 27th.
If you have your own natural history mystery (an unidentified animal, plant or other specimen), send a photo or two to naturalist@calacademy.org. We’ll do our best to help out. Please include location, date and any other details that seem pertinent.
Source:
Scats and Tracks of the Pacific Coast, including British Columbia: A Field Guide to the Signs of 70 Wildlife Species / James C. Halfpenny; illustrated by Todd Telander. Helena, Mont.: Falcon, c1999. Naturalist Center Reference QL768 .H36 1999
Total shot in the dark. Western Grey Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)??
Comment by Adam — September 23, 2011 @ 11:08 am
White-tailed deer.
Comment by SG — September 23, 2011 @ 11:19 am
A guinea pig!
Comment by Cindy Pridmore — September 23, 2011 @ 11:21 am
Looks like moose. Deer droppings aren’t that big.
Comment by Rich M — September 23, 2011 @ 11:36 am
Is that inches or cm?
Comment by Viola — September 23, 2011 @ 11:56 am
The ruler is showing inches. Viola, thanks for pointing that out.
Comment by nature — September 23, 2011 @ 12:19 pm
Elk
Comment by Stacy Ryerson — September 23, 2011 @ 1:06 pm
Is it elk??
Comment by kathy — September 23, 2011 @ 6:04 pm
White Tailed Deer. Looks like it’s on it’s “winter diet” of woody shrubs. 3/16 – 5/8″ dia. by 1/2 – 1-3/4″ long, typ scat size range.
Comment by Adam L. — September 23, 2011 @ 8:35 pm
Rat
Comment by Anzhelika — September 23, 2011 @ 8:57 pm
Pig
Comment by Angie — September 24, 2011 @ 12:41 am
Great guesses! Congratulations especially to Kathy and Stacy Ryerson who guessed correctly. It is indeed the scat of Cervus canadensis, commonly known as elk.
Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences
We’ll have another Who Pooped? up on Friday, but in the meantime can you guess our mystery specimen?
Comment by nature — September 27, 2011 @ 8:50 am