{"id":42514,"date":"2024-10-09T10:58:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T08:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/8dd7cd5f-8ef5-475f-aaf2-ce0f51ffef9b"},"modified":"2024-10-09T12:27:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T10:27:47","slug":"how-to-identify-animal-droppings-our-guide-to-the-wildlife-poop-you-might-find-in-your-garden-or-out-on-a-walk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/how-to-identify-animal-droppings-our-guide-to-the-wildlife-poop-you-might-find-in-your-garden-or-out-on-a-walk\/","title":{"rendered":"How to identify animal droppings: Our guide to the wildlife poop you might find in your garden or out on a walk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Droppings or scats can tell us a lot about which animals have been visiting our gardens, parks and countryside, including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. Our expert guide explains how to identify which poos belong to which species. Plus, animal droppings from species from around the world \u2013 and fungi and insects you might spot on droppings. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 09 October 2024 at 08:58 AM<\/p>

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Droppings are usually left along territorial boundaries, on prominent features of the landscape or next to discarded prey such as a plucked pigeon, but you can also find them right in the middle of a path, clearing or field. Regularly used poop spots are known as latrines.<\/strong><\/p>

While mammal<\/a> poo is relatively easy to identify, the droppings of different birds<\/a> often look the same \u2013 white splodges containing a paste of waste products. But those of a few species, including the three illustrated here, are more distinctive.<\/p>

A careful eye, a guarded sniff and (sometimes) a careful inspection using disposable gloves can often reveal the species responsible for the droppings.<\/p>

Our expert guide to animal droppings or scats will help you identify which species it comes from. Click on each link below to jump to that animal\u2019s droppings in the guide.<\/p>

Mammals<\/h3>

BADGER<\/a> \u2022 BROWN HARE<\/a> \u2022 EUROPEAN BEAR<\/a> \u2022 FOX<\/a> \u2022 HEDGEHOG<\/a> \u2022 OTTER<\/a> \u2022 PINE MARTEN<\/a> \u2022 POLECAT<\/a> \u2022 RABBIT<\/a> \u2022 RAT<\/a> \u2022 ROE DEER<\/a> \u2022 WATER VOLE<\/a> \u2022 WILD BOAR<\/a> \u2022 WOLVERINE<\/a><\/p>

Birds<\/h3>

CANADA GOOSE<\/a> \u2022 GREEN WOODPECKER<\/a> \u2022 PHEASANT<\/a><\/p>

Insects<\/h3>

NOBLE CHAFER BEETLE<\/a><\/p>

All illustrations by Mike Langman<\/em><\/p>

How to identify mammal droppings<\/h2>