week 7 notes ANIMALS

animal identification. words have been replaced with "dookie". also, go by common name, and make it as simple as you can. like categories pretty much

• can be individual or in clumps, depending on moisture level in diet

• size similar to chocolate covered raisins

deer

• similar in size to long grain rice

chipmunk

• similar in size to tic tacs

squirrel

• similar in size to skittles

• initial is darker + wetter, when re-digested will be dry and look like it contains fibrous material

cottontail

• tubular and twisted

• likely to be more plant based (berries)

gray fox

• tubular, tapered, twisted

• often full of bones/hair

• often on trails/trail crossings

• multiple scat deposits are common

• “done with a good view”

coyote

• large

• tubular, twisted, tapered on one or both ends

• often found on trails and trail crossings

wolf

• very large

• multiple tubes dropped

• fruit diet = seed filled deposit, lightly packed or loose

black bear

• segmented

• often found middle of trail/trail intersection

• rarely find bones and hair (great digestion)

• may be accompanied by ground scraping

bobcat

• segmented, tubular, dense

• tapered on one end

• smooth surface

• strong odor

• hair and bones present

• may be accompanied by ground scraping

• covered with debris

cougar

• segmented, tubular

• found at base of trees and on trails

• fruit diet = the scat becomes a seed filled deposit, either lightly packed or loose

• known to carry parasitic roundworms

raccoon

• small

• tubular

• skunky scent

• midst of trail

• may be made up of insect parts, contain seeds, or be smooth

skunk

ungulates, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, porcupines, beaver dookie shape

pellets

• 5 toes

• huge

• claws present

black bear

• 4 toes

• X test possible (canidae)

• toes 2 and 3 basically on top of 1 and 4

• claws point relatively inward and can be sharper

• space between toes 2 and 3 and the metacarpal pad

coyote

• 4 toes

• difficult to do x test, but still possible (canidae)

• toes 2 and 3 sit low and close to the metacarpal pad

• toes 1 and 4 point outwards

• almost more “splayed” than their potential counterparts

domestic dog

• 4 toes

• x test possible (canidae)

• claws visible

• size matters (will be small)

gray fox

• 4 toes

• x test impossible (feline)

• for the most part, claw prints lacking (feline)

• metacarpal pad MIGHT have 2 lobes on the front of the heel (feline)

• claw prints will only visible if they are using them for grip

• size matters. this one will be smaller than the other option

bobcat

• 4 toes

• toes asymmetrical, leading toe slightly forward (uneven)

• for the most part, claw prints lacking (feline)

• metacarpal pad MIGHT have 2 lobes on the front of the heel (feline)

• claw prints only visible if using them for grip

• size matters. this one will be bigger than the other option

mountain lion

• 5 toes

• claws visible

• fore and hind paws will look different from eachother

• mini hands the loooong way

  
  

raccoon

• 5 toes

• claws visible

• fore and hind paws will look different from eachother

• mini hands the weiiiird way (like if you were trying to tell L and R with your hands. it’s the same kind of shape)

opossum

• cloven hoof, two main toes

• wider at the rear

• dewclaws may show behind the main toes as little dots

• “heart shaped”, allegedly

deer

• “coffee bean shaped”, allegedly

• dewclaws present and point outwards

• rounder, allegedly

wild boar

• 5 toes on HIND feet with multiple distinct palm pads

• 4 toes on FRONT feet

• claws present

• we will probably see them as pock marks

squirrel

• forepaws are tiny

• rear paws are huge and long

• you might see the tail’s drag

kangaroo rat

• anisodactyl (3 toes in the front, one out the back)

• i really dont know what else to say. thats the only bird track they listed

quail

i dont know how to describe this. you tell me what you see

snake

• toes present.. like, 5, maybe?

• long

• seemingly point outwards, idk

• tail drag seems to be present pretty often

lizard