Mystery Scat
Do you know whose scat this is? Chances are that you may never have seen the scat of this animal, but a close look at its composition will give you a large hint. An additional clue can be found by examining the log that the scat is sitting on (the log is there for display purposes – the scat was originally deposited in the water). The identity of the scat-maker will be posted tomorrow!
I suspect from your hints that the scat belongs to a beaver. I saw a large amount of scat on some bent over trees next to a beaver lodge and suspected it was from the beavers. Do they usually go in the water…perhaps the tree scat was from something else?
April 24, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Beaver! The stick made it too easy
April 24, 2012 at 12:13 pm
I didn’t even know what scat was until I saw the picture – I have no idea what has produced it!
April 24, 2012 at 12:20 pm
from your hint…must be beaver. I’ve seen plenty of beavers but never noticed any scat.
April 24, 2012 at 1:31 pm
The perfume was such that I knew instantly: SKUNK!
April 24, 2012 at 1:34 pm
LOL Mary you made this one to easy….:-) Beaver!
April 24, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Mary, How long before the beaver scat disintegrates in the water? I would guess it’s difficult to spot… Does muskrat also defecate in the water as a rule?
April 24, 2012 at 4:10 pm
It doesn’t take very long (a few days at most) for the scat to disintegrate…they are usually a much lighter color than the surrounding mud, leaves, etc. so are easy to find if you know where to look (check in tomorrow for that information). Muskrats may defecate in the water, but I have consistently found their scat on rocks and tufts of grass very near the water. (see Page 45 in Naturally Curious!)
April 24, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Thank you Mary! I love the mysteries! The chewed stick does give it away. Is it possible to put a ruler next to your future mysteries, so we can get the scale? I have found beaver scat before, and muskrat… And have a scat collection. Sounds funny I know. But I bet you have some amazing collections of all sorts of cool and wonderful things!
Thanks again Mary!
April 24, 2012 at 8:51 pm
I’m going with Beaver (Castor canadensis). Thanks for the great site!
April 25, 2012 at 12:36 am