Whose scat? - Ask Extension
I found this scat while weeding on my property in Silverton. It is outside my fenced area. We live on the edge of the woods. You can see the 4x4 post ...
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Whose scat? #867491
Asked May 07, 2024, 8:09 PM EDT
I found this scat while weeding on my property in Silverton. It is outside my fenced area. We live on the edge of the woods. You can see the 4x4 post for my fence in the picture, for size. There was one 4 inch long, nugget-log and three smaller. I'm thinking it's deer, but my Montana raised husband thinks it could be bear? I have tried other on-line searches and nothing matches. Deer usually have a pile of pellets, These are lumped together in a log shape. Can you identify? Thanks
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
I agree with your assessment - This is deer (or elk - hard to tell specific individual "nugget sizes" in photo) eating lots of very moist spring forage. The moisture content moves the bulk material through their systems too quickly to remove all the moisture so the pellets start merging - sometimes to the point of being patties.