Identifying wildlife presence offers insights into local ecosystems and promotes safety. Understanding coyote droppings, also known as scat, helps recognize if these canids are active in an area.
Key Visual Indicators
Coyote droppings exhibit a distinct rope-like or tubular shape, tapering to a point at one or both ends. Their length ranges from about 3 to 12 inches, with a diameter of approximately 0.75 to 1.5 inches. Consistency varies, appearing segmented or twisted, due to undigested fur.
The color of coyote scat depends on their diet and how recently it was deposited. Droppings from a meat-heavy diet are dark, ranging from black to dark brown. Conversely, a diet rich in fruits or berries results in lighter, sometimes reddish-brown or crumbly scat. Exposed droppings may bleach to whitish over time.
Unveiling Dietary Clues
Examining coyote droppings reveals their opportunistic and varied diet. Scat acts as a biological record of what they have eaten. Common findings include animal hair and small bone fragments, particularly during colder months when prey like rodents and rabbits are a primary food source.
During warmer seasons, coyote scat contains insect exoskeletons, seeds, berries, and other plant matter. This diversity highlights the coyote’s adaptability, shifting their diet based on seasonal resource availability. Remnants of human-provided food may also be observed in scat from urban or suburban areas.
Distinguishing from Other Wildlife
Differentiating coyote droppings from those of other animals involves observing a combination of visual cues and contents.
Domestic dog feces are more uniform in texture, softer, and lack tapered ends or visible fur and bone fragments characteristic of coyote scat. Dog droppings also lack the musky, gamey odor associated with coyote scat.
Fox droppings are similar to coyote scat but smaller, around 2 to 3 inches long and about 0.5 inches in diameter, with pointed ends.
Bobcat scat is shorter, up to 4 inches long and 0.75 inches in diameter, and has blunt ends, lacking the distinct tapering seen in coyote droppings. While bobcat scat can contain hair and bones, they are more efficiently digested, making visible inclusions less common than in coyote scat.
Raccoon scat appears segmented with blunt tips and contains undigested items such as seeds or crayfish remains. It ranges from 3.5 to 7 inches in length and 0.3 to 1.2 inches in diameter.
Bear scat is larger, 5 to 12 inches long and 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Its appearance varies widely from loose piles to cylindrical forms depending on the bear’s diet, filled with large amounts of vegetation or fruit.
Location and Contextual Clues
The placement of coyote droppings provides clues to their identity and presence. Coyotes deposit scat in prominent locations, such as along trails, on rocks, logs, or at path intersections. This strategic placement marks territory and communicates with other coyotes.
They also leave droppings at the bottom or top of slopes. Consistent use of specific locations for defecation underscores scat’s role in coyote social behavior and territorial defense.