Feces identification, also known as scat, or animal droppings can be a difficult task to identify as feces change according to the animal's diet. Droppings are dirty and germy, but often a telltale sign of a rodents or wildlife in and around your home. Avoid handling droppings without proper protection, which includes avoiding inhaling around it. Some infectious viruses, like Hantavirus may be contracted through dust borne particles.

Important Observations to Make When Identifying Scat

Determine its size both in length and width.

Identify its form. (picture)

Is it round like a pellet?

• Ungulates: Deer, Elk,
• Rabbits
• Plop: Bear, Cows, Buffalo, Horses

Tubular, like a Tootsie Roll?

• Canines: Dogs, Coyotes, Fox
• Raccoons
• Felines
• Bobcats
• Geese-usually green

Are the ends flat or pointed or is one end flat and the other pointed?

• Rodents: Mice, Rats (more of blunt ends), Voles
• Bats

Is it smooth from one end to the other? Or is it segmented like a natural fibered rope?

Other important questions include:

• Is there one dropping or multiple?
• Can you identify any hair or food particles in the droppings? Sometimes corn, berries, seeds, and insect wings aren't completely digested.
• What time of day do you find the droppings? Would they have been left at night or during the day?
• Is it a one time event or does it occur in the same general spot for several days?
• What is above the scat? Could it have dropped from a tree or overhanging plant
• What state are you from and what type of habitat do you reside in (ie. woods, urban, suburban, agricultural etc.) as this helps us know what types of animals live in your area.
• Does any portion of the dropping contain white elements?
• The white portion of a dropping comes from the nitrogen content in the feces.
• Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians can all have white in their droppings.

Fresh droppings are moist, soft, glisten and look wet. Once, the droppings begin to harden which usually takes a few days to week, they appear dull. Rat droppings become gray, dusty and crumbly whereas mice become hard and whitish.

Before cleaning rodent feces, squirrel droppings or bat droppings from spaces like attics, basements, crawlspaces and other storage areas, there are important things to know. The infestation should be completely removed and measures should be taken to pest proof, or prevent the entry again.

Although a simple task cleaning up after animals or rodents can be dangerous. There are infectious viruses, like Hantavirus found in rodent’s urine, rodent droppings and even nesting material like insulation. Thomas Pest Services offers rodent removal and rodent dropping removal with heppa filer vacuums, sanitation liquid, insulation removal and replacement.

Thomas Pest Services has been solving rodent and wildlife problems for those that live, work and play in the Capital Region and surrounding towns like Chatham, Schenectady, Latham, Saratoga Springs and Queensbury with third generation experience. To learn more about rodent removal, squirrel removal, bat removal, contact Thomas Pest Services via phone at 1-877-518-2847, via web inquiry, Facebook or Twitter!

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