Help with mammal scat ID

Tangaroa
New Member

Posts: 21

Help with mammal scat ID Dec 16, 2020 14:10:44 GMT

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Post by Tangaroa on Dec 16, 2020 14:10:44 GMT

Hello everyone,

All I seem to do at the moment is post pictures of poo looking for help with ID

I found this one outside of a rabbit hole on the Isle of Lewis. It was about 10cm long from memory (should have used something for scale in the photo

) Obviously no foxes or badgers on Lewis so I thought otter, but it did not have the typical otter smell or appearance. Could it be American mink maybe? I know they have been culling them, quite successfully on the island, but its possible that some still remain.

What do you think?

Tringa
Supreme Member

Posts: 2,632

Help with mammal scat ID Dec 17, 2020 9:28:21 GMT

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Post by Tringa on Dec 17, 2020 9:28:21 GMT

I think mink scats are twisted, but I they could change depending on diet. Do you have pine martens or hedgehogs on Lewis? It isn't really like the poo of either and I have seen plenty of both but without fox and badger on the island the candidate list is pretty small.

Dave

Tangaroa
New Member

Posts: 21

Help with mammal scat ID Dec 17, 2020 10:28:18 GMT

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Post by Tangaroa on Dec 17, 2020 10:28:18 GMT

Hi Dave,

I think the lack of land mammals on Lewis is what has thrown me a little bit. I expect to see otter spraints but it doesn't really look like otter or mink, or even pine marten or hedgehog as you say. I don't think there are pine martens, but there are hedgehogs on the island still. A mysterious beast of some kind? lol

Tringa Supreme Member Posts: 2,632	Help with mammal scat ID Dec 17, 2020 15:45:04 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Tringa on Dec 17, 2020 15:45:04 GMT I don't know if this is likely or not but could it be the poo of a herbivore that has expanded as it got damp? Dave

Tangaroa New Member Posts: 21	Help with mammal scat ID Dec 17, 2020 16:48:26 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Tangaroa on Dec 17, 2020 16:48:26 GMT Its a possibility, there were geese around, although this was in longer grass rather than their usual shorter grass areas. It was damp as you would expect on Lewis in December.

Post by Tangaroa on Dec 16, 2020 14:10:44 GMT

Post by Tringa on Dec 17, 2020 9:28:21 GMT

Post by Tangaroa on Dec 17, 2020 10:28:18 GMT

Post by Tringa on Dec 17, 2020 15:45:04 GMT

Post by Tangaroa on Dec 17, 2020 16:48:26 GMT