Pellet or poo?

[vole-woman]

I know I should have photographed this before I broke it up as well as after, but I found it in a field near a stream and it looked bolus-sized and shaped, and dark and smooth. Assuming it was a BOP I broke it open, only to be hit by the smell which was like dog poo. So I'm thinking fox? There seems to be grass in it as well as rabbit fur, but I couldn't see any tiny bones. What do you think? Do pellets ever smell?

[Farplace]

I am no expert on pellets, but I know a lot about fox poo. I am caring for an injured fox cub at the moment.
As far as I know, pellets usually contain bones (or beetle wing cases etc in the case of little owls) and I dont think they smell.
Fox poo DOES smell. Lots. It tends to be black(ish) and similar to dog poo.
Your photo doesnt look typical of fox poo..... but doesnt look typical of a pellet either.
..................... I dont think I have been any help at all here.......

[vole-woman]

It probably won't look typical of fox poo because I pulled it apart. I was surprised it only seemed to be made up of fur and possibly grass, though.

[Farplace]

foxes do eat grass and rabbits..... But I would have expected it to be very sticky / slimy unless it was very old and had been given time to dry out..... but in that case, it probably wouldnt smell.
If it had gone through the digestive system of a fox, (or any other mammal) i dont think the fur would still be recognisable as FUR.
very puzzling.

[Burko]

Urrmmm..... what's a bolus? Do you have another point of reference to ascertain the size?

[vole-woman]

About the size of a large barn owl pellet, I suppose.

[Burko]

I'd be on with Fox for this one.

[Dogghound]

It looks like a fox. Possibly a coughed up hair ball rather than a dropping which would explain the grass and fresh hair.

[vole-woman]

That makes sense, because there was something a bit sicky/mucusy-looking next to it.