Bear Scat...Spring/Summer/Fall

[saylean]

So, while I am out and about this Spring (and last year) I have found some pretty big piles of scat, in both quantity and size. In the summer, I find some large piles, but not as much it seems (in both size and quantity)...

The question is:

Do you think their diet in the spring causes them to pass scat more frequently and larger than they normally would, than that in the summer?

I ask cause I wonder how big this one bear I am trying to get is, as his/her poo is the biggest I have seen. Perhaps I am off a bit by judging a bear by its size of scat...but heres to hoping...

thoughts on this?

[Kain]

I am not sure if you mean amount or size of the poo.  I am thankful that one of the things I am not an expert on is poo.     But my guess would be the same bear in the spring vs the summer will have differing sizes of poo.
Spring bear = slower metabolism and food source that are harder to digest.
Summer bears = faster metabolism and high energy easy to digest food sources.
These things will effect the consistency, amount and size of poo.

I have seen my thirty pound dog drop a load that was way bigger than my 80 pound dog normally does.  I thought it would have been a physical impossibility for the size of the poo that came out of her. 

Fun topic btw. 

[bowhunterforever]

 

[saylean]

We all need reasons to smile...perhaps I should have put this in the Jokes threads...


I guess it would be both the size and amount...i mean, there seems to be a TON of amount in the piles I am finding (that look like just one sitting.. ...whereas in the summer there may be alot, but often times, it looks like the bear has stopped by the same spot a few times and not as big around as ya find in the spring.

Ok, so i was bored alright. I can only look at work stuff for so long and go over google earth plotting my attack for so long...

[Kain]

    Well I must be really bored cause I read it and then try to come up with a some what educated guess.  Google earth is awesome was looking it over this morning myself.  August cant come soon enough.  I wish you would hurry up and get one so we could talk about other things!!!   

[runamuk]

Well my best guess.... would be partially due to the food sources....BUT having hibernated all winter I assume they are emptying their system for lack of a better description.  So the high fiber spring diet also probably helps with that....just a guess....not that I am a poo aficionado or anything 

[rasbo]

poop its whats after dinner...Ive found most the time the larger the diameter of the poopage, can relate to the size of the bear..these or from my own findings around feed barrels,where they are eating the same food..but track size is what gets me in the mood

[billythekidrock]

The question is:

Do you think their diet in the spring causes them to pass scat more frequently and larger than they normally would, than that in the summer?

In my experience the amount and frequency is highest when all the berries are ripe. Everything from Salal, Huck, Cascara, Black, etc.

[Kain]

   That reminds of the time a ate half a jar of fermented cherries....but I guess I should keep that story to myself.   

[rasbo]

The question is:

Do you think their diet in the spring causes them to pass scat more frequently and larger than they normally would, than that in the summer?

In my experience the amount and frequency is highest when all the berries are ripe. Everything from Salal, Huck, Cascara, Black, etc.

there was a size question..they poop as much as they eat.the more feed the more poop...if they are grubbing and foraging you will see less piles,big berry patches it can look like a cow pasture...all depends on the resource..

[billythekidrock]

Yes, but I have seen near pop can sized turds completely compossed of berries layed out tatertot style. Not just cow patty style.

[Kain]

  He said tatertot style.  Im such a child sometimes.

[Huntbear]

Spring bear poo is filled with grass, small rodents, tree bark etc....

Fall bear poo is filled with berries, bones, larger rodents, and the clothing from tree huggers that want to feed the nice bears...

[jackelope]

this may be one of the greatest threads of all time...

[saylean]

this may be one of the greatest threads of all time...

My work here is done!