Scat ID

[mbaldw]

Hi folks,

earlier this week, a lady contacted me asking for a description of squirrel poo (I get this kinda thing quite a bit ). She had come back from a weekend away to find a load of unidenfied scat on her lawn and patio. I replied, providing a description and asking for some photos (I do that a lot, too ). She sent me the below (I apologise for the quality, but they're as I got them). For my money, it's hedgehog poo (poo-b being very wet hedgehog poo). However, I thought I'd post here in case anyone had any different ideas. The scat is about 1 in. long.

Thanks very much.
Cheers,
Marc.

[specimin]

They don't seem to be made up like typical Hedgehog poo do they, but i guess with this weather they're probably eating whatever they can find.

Alternative idea: Mistle Thrush?
The third one looks a bit 'appley'

[Dogghound]

Hedgehogs generally dont usually come out of hibernation until around March/April time. This doesnt look that much like a hedgehog dropping. Its very pale and lacks any apparent insect remains, it looks like something thats been eating lots of berries. Probrably a large Thrush species, or a corvid.

[wild flower]

Looks very hedgehog like to me. Although most of my books talk about hedgehogs eating beetles, caterpillars and earthworms the droppings I have seen in autumn often look very 'seedy' so to speak. The dropping on the grass looks quite seed rich?

[pressld2]

I thought the one on the grass looked reasonably good for hedgehog although a bit lighter in colour than the ones left on my patio last year. The first two looked too smooth but it's hard to tell without knowing how old they are and what weather conditions they've been subjected too.

Like Dogghound, I wouldn't expect hedgehogs to be active at present, especially with the cold weather we've been having.

Dave P.

[wild flower]

I certainly agree and would not expect hedgehogs to be active at present. If the photos are recent then I withdraw my hedgehog theory and will put my money on Dogghounds suggestion). In terms of pellets the ones I have actually seen coughed up are much smaller than an inch and have tended to be very stony/pebbly (in the smallest sense), accepting that owls etc have much larger pellets.

[mbaldw]

Hi folks,

thanks for the responses. To me, the one on the grass looks very similar to the other hedgehog scats I've seen - I reckon the animal has been feeding on seeds (under bird feeders, or local farm sheds?). I agree that it does look rather anemic, although I'm open to the idea that this could be a result of the less ususal (i.e. less heavily insect-based) diet and weathering. Also, when the weather gets very cold, hedgehogs (bats, too for that matter) will often rouse from hibernation and search for food - they are at danger of frostbite or freezing to death if temperatures drop below 1oC. Even during constant conditions (i.e. when kept in captivity), they usually rouse from hibernation for periods of a couple of days every seven to 11 days - overall, they spend about 80% of their hibernation in torpor.

The more I look at the other shots, the more I think B could well be a bird (thrush or large corvid, as suggested).

Thanks very much for the help.
Cheers,
Marc.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by mbaldw

earlier this week, a lady contacted me asking for a description of squirrel poo (I get this kinda thing quite a bit ).

IMHO I think it’s plausible that all 3 photos are hedgehog poo. The differing colours and consistencies resultant of their diet.

Also, when the weather gets very cold, hedgehogs (bats, too for that matter) will often rouse from hibernation and search for food - they are at danger of frostbite or freezing to death if temperatures drop below 1oC.

Indeed. During hibernation the hedgehog’s body cools down and the heart rate decreases from approx 190pm to 20pm. Their body temperature drops from 35oC to approx 10oC and breathing almost stops. If the air temperature in their hibernacula falls below freezing, they’re at risk of ice crystals forming in their blood, so their body functions switch back on and rouses them from their deep sleep.

Likewise, they may rouse from hibernation during a mild spell

Most hedgehogs don't leave their nests during these periods of arousal, but obviously some do, either to forage for food to top up their fat reserves or to build a warmer hibernacula.

Hibernation is a very complex event indeed!

[Dogghound]

But they also look like bird (possibly thrush sp) droppings which are far more active in winter and eat plenty of berries. Hedgehog droppings usually contain some remains of insects and almost always point off at one end which none of these do.

[Hedgehoggy]

But they also look like bird (possibly thrush sp) droppings which are far more active in winter and eat plenty of berries.

I didn’t totally discount bird poop, I said it was ‘plausible’ that all 3 were hog poo.

Hedgehog droppings usually contain some remains of insects

Hedgehog poo will only contain remains of insects if they’ve actually digested any and, given the time of year, as their preferred natural food will not readily be available, any hogs still up and about (and there are still some about) will eat whatever is available, eg seed, fruit & berries, and even carrion.

One of the hogs I’m currently over-wintering would only eat dried food initially and all her poos at the time looked like a darker granular version of pic 3. Another hog in my care will only eat wet food and her poos are very sloppy, as in pic 2, but as I’m slowly adding some weetabix in with the wet food, her poos are beginning to firm up!

and almost always point off at one end which none of these do.

I can see tapering in the first two pics, but that’s irrelevant as not all hog poo tapers to an obvious point.

Hope nobody is eating while reading this post!