Scat identification is a valuable tool in wildlife monitoring and can signal a large predator’s presence. Recognizing mountain lion droppings (also known as cougar or puma scat) is important for understanding their behavior and range. This knowledge aids researchers tracking population health and provides safety awareness for hikers. Identification involves examining external size, internal composition, and placement.
Defining the Physical Appearance
Mountain lion scat is distinctly rope-like and tubular, often appearing as segmented pieces or a single, long cord. The diameter is substantial, typically measuring one inch or more across, which differentiates it from smaller felines like the bobcat. Length commonly ranges between five and fifteen inches, depending on the meal consumed.
The ends of the segments are usually blunt, a characteristic of cat scat, though one end may occasionally taper. Unlike the soft droppings of some animals, mountain lion scat is notably firm and dense, making it difficult to break apart. Color varies based on age and diet, ranging from dark brown or black when fresh to a grayish-white hue as it dries and bleaches in the sun.
A smooth, slightly mucousy coating is sometimes visible on the exterior, a common trait in feline species. This firm texture results from the animal’s highly carnivorous diet. Density and consistent diameter are primary identification features before examining the contents.
Internal Clues and Contents
The internal makeup of mountain lion scat indicates their status as obligate carnivores, meaning their diet consists almost exclusively of meat. When broken open, the scat is packed tightly with undigested material, mainly hair and bone fragments from prey. This dense packing contributes to the scat’s overall firmness.
The fur is often twisted and matted, typically belonging to primary prey like deer, but it may also contain hair from smaller mammals. Bone fragments, sometimes appearing as noticeable chunks, are common because mountain lions consume a significant portion of their prey’s skeleton. The high calcium content from digested bone can cause the scat to appear whitish or chalky as it ages.
The absence of plant matter, seeds, or berries confirms the animal’s identity. The presence of these items would suggest an omnivore, as the mountain lion’s digestive system is streamlined for a high-protein diet.
Context and Location
Mountain lions often use scat as a form of communication, deliberately placing it in visible locations to mark territory. It is frequently found on prominent features like trails, ridgelines, or on top of logs and mounds. This intentional placement is a form of scent-marking, particularly common among adult male cougars.
They sometimes create a ‘scratch pile’ by scraping together dirt and leaves with their hind feet before defecating or urinating on the mound. This behavior enhances the visual and olfactory signal. However, mountain lions, particularly females with cubs, may attempt to cover their feces near a kill site.
Covering scat near a carcass is thought to mask their presence and prevent attracting other predators or competing mountain lions to the cached food. Therefore, a prominent, exposed deposit usually signals territorial advertisement, while a partially covered one may indicate a recent kill.
Differentiation from Common Scat
Distinguishing mountain lion scat from that of other large animals is based on size, contents, and structure. Scat from large domestic dogs can be similar in size but is rarely as dense and typically lacks the high concentration of undigested hair and bone. Dog feces also tend to be looser and disintegrate more easily.
Coyote scat is smaller in diameter, generally less than one inch, and its segments are often twisted and tapered at the ends. Coyotes are omnivores, so their droppings frequently contain a mix of fur, bone, and seasonal items like berries, which are never found in mountain lion scat.
Bear scat is much larger, typically one and a half to two and a half inches in diameter, and is less uniform or firm. Because bears are omnivores, their droppings are frequently a messy pile containing plant material, grass, or fruit remains, a stark contrast to the compacted hair and bone of the mountain lion.