collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Scat and Sign Identification Questions  (Read 2950 times)

Offline UrbanTrapper

  • Life Member: NRA, SCI, DSC, NTA, WSTA, ITA, ATA
  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 403
  • Location: Seattle or Kittitas County
  • Groups: NRA, SCI, WWC, HHC, NTA, WSTA
Scat and Sign Identification Questions
« on: January 29, 2016, 11:26:44 AM »
Still learning to read scat and sign and I often find stuff I can't identify.  Attached are some current examples and my best guesses:

Scat 1: Marmot? (Cle Elum)
Scat 2: small cat? (Cle Elum)
Scat 03: no idea (Cle Elum)
Scat 04: mink (left), small otter (right)? (Bellevue)
Scat 05: no idea (Kent)
Sign 01:  Is this where a mink hauled out and ate a bird?( Bellevue)
Holes 01:  Muskrat holes? (next to a tiny ditch and a field of standing corn) (Kent)
« Last Edit: January 29, 2016, 04:42:30 PM by UrbanTrapper »

Offline SunnySlopes

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 89
  • Location: Wenatchee, WA.
Re: Scat and Sign Identification Questions
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2016, 12:27:55 PM »
Well I'll play. I'd like to be able to zoom in on your first pic but can't. It does look very simple to Rockchuck scat. They will live in and under old homesteads. Don't know where you took the pic, but, you wouldn't have any marmots over on the coast.
2. Feral cat
3. mink I would say from here. But, again don't know location of pic, possibally Marten, skunk.
4. weasel, both.
5. dirt eatin coyote.
Feathers. Anyones guess, I guess raptor picked a bird on that log.
Holes show no sign of anybody livin there. I'm sure a mink would poke his head in there when he goes by.
Big part of sign reading is knowing what speices inhabit the area and then a process of elimination til you decide on a likely suspect. Of course other evidence is important: In #1 are there any hairs stuck in those boards? If so what animal? Any seeds, insect, or scales in any of those scats? If so I'd change to a coon toilet.
Any tracks around any of them, etc.
When I was a kid I got a copy of petersons field guide to animal tracks by Olaus Murray. Great old book. I studied that book for years. In fact I opened it this fall to read what he had to say about wolf stride distance.
Soon you'll be able to tell the difference between coyote and cat tracks in the snow along the hiway at 60 mph!

Offline Linkslice

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 20
Re: Scat and Sign Identification Questions
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2016, 03:25:31 PM »
When I was a kid I got a copy of petersons field guide to animal tracks by Olaus Murray. Great old book. I studied that book for years. In fact I opened it this fall to read what he had to say about wolf stride distance.
Soon you'll be able to tell the difference between coyote and cat tracks in the snow along the hiway at 60 mph!

Thanks for the tip. Ordering from Amazon right now!

Offline UrbanTrapper

  • Life Member: NRA, SCI, DSC, NTA, WSTA, ITA, ATA
  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 403
  • Location: Seattle or Kittitas County
  • Groups: NRA, SCI, WWC, HHC, NTA, WSTA
Re: Scat and Sign Identification Questions
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2016, 04:45:31 PM »
Thanks for the help, Sunnyslopes.  I went back and added locations and yes, Scat 01 was at an old homestead. 

Offline Trapper John

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1514
  • Location: Monroe, WA
  • Groups: Life member of: WSTA, NTA, ITA, NRA also member of FTA, F4WM
Re: Scat and Sign Identification Questions
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2016, 10:27:32 PM »


You can get a couple of apps for your smart phone that will help you out while your out in the field.
The two that I tell new trappers to put on theirs phone are:
iTrack and Track Matcher.  Both are free to down load.
You can check tracks and I think scat too while your out in the field.
JC   :hello: 



 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Springfield 1898 30-40 KRAG by NOCK NOCK
[Today at 05:57:06 AM]


RV floor repair, have you done it by NOCK NOCK
[Today at 05:50:48 AM]


WSTA Winter Renezvous fur buying by Frank The Tank
[Today at 03:51:48 AM]


Hawke scopes? by C-Money
[Yesterday at 11:38:09 PM]


Here’s my 2025 shed video by Tjv28
[Yesterday at 10:31:52 PM]


Spring bear 2026 by Ridgerunner
[Yesterday at 10:11:55 PM]


Pizza, a love story by WapitiTalk1
[Yesterday at 09:16:55 PM]


Fuel transfer pump by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 09:06:09 PM]


WHCE Expo 2026 by teanawayslayer
[Yesterday at 07:42:37 PM]


Arizona credit card hits by Beastmonger1987
[Yesterday at 07:21:29 PM]


Where to buy beef? by jackelope
[Yesterday at 07:19:14 PM]


My New Boat Should Be Ready For Delivery Soon by Blacklab
[Yesterday at 06:54:32 PM]


2026 Sportsmen for Conservation Fund Banquet Hosted by SCI Northwest Chapter by videorc
[Yesterday at 04:25:12 PM]


Blacktail Trophy Tactics Hunting Event: Free for Veterans/Active Duty by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 04:13:56 PM]


Calling Cougars? by rainshadow1
[Yesterday at 01:53:27 PM]


Shoot or No Shot 2026 – Episode #2 by High Climber
[Yesterday at 01:45:06 PM]


me and my son headed east for our 2nd turkey season by MMCCAULEY
[Yesterday at 12:13:24 PM]


Yellow Perch tips? Snohomish county by AL WORRELLS KID
[Yesterday at 11:56:49 AM]


Brother's Ram by bearhunter99
[Yesterday at 09:24:45 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2026, SimplePortal