5 or more different types of scat grouped together

[Leigh Robinson]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me what is going on here please? It looks like scat of different animals/different diets (seeds can be seen.) and different ages. Why would this happen?

http://www.masterforge.co.uk/forum-images/Scat.JPG

 

[JonathanD]

Looks like a badgers latrine to me. The difference is just other badgers in the same group and whatever they've been foraging over the last couple of days. They often change consistency too, some being very sloppy, while others are quite firm.

 

[m.durston]

to quote austin powers = mmm nutty!

 

[Bushwhacker]

I'd say badger too.

 

[jdlenton]

yup badger and all ive go to say has been said mixed food for different individuals = different consistency, different colour etc

only other interesting observation that you could possibly take back to the field and have a look is that the latrine usually marks the edge of the groups territory

 

[Colin.W]

or as my dad used to say "They don't do do dos on the door step"

 

[Pablo]

If this latrine isn't near a sett it may well be a territorial latrine. This means that it may be used by two or even more clans. Hence the different consistencies in the scat (plus the ageing of the scat of course.)

 

[tommy the cat]

Oooh I didn't know that Pablo....... I like the idea of badgers being in clans!!!
Just out of interest what sort of distance from a sett do badgers do do and what distance would be considered a clan do do? ( doesn't have to be to the nearest inch)
Dave

 

[Pablo]

The range can vary and it's dependent on many different factors such as other setts in the area and the availability of food. It may be a quarter of a mile radius or significantly more.

I would say to Leigh in the first post that he's stumbled on a territory marker of at least two clans. If he does a structured search he may well come across a number of different setts.