Identify Scat

• 1). Understand the differences among the types of large carnivore and omnivore scat you might see. Most Idaho predator scat looks similar to domestic dog scat. In fact, you may not be able to tell canine predator scat from domestic dog scat, aside from the fact that there is often a large amount of hair in it. Mountain lion scat, though, is segmented and rounder on the ends than canine scat, while bear scat is generally large, lumpy and full of seeds. The color of scat varies depending upon the animal's diet.
  
  
• 2). Know the basic differences among the hoofed animals' scat in Idaho. These animals generally have pelleted scat. Deer, antelope, elk and moose scat are all somewhat elongated pellets, with deer being the smallest and moose the largest. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep scat is composed of more rounded pellets. In the spring and summer, the pellets are likely to be mushy and stuck together because the animals are feasting on succulent vegetation.
  
  
• 3). Consider the location of the scat to help you determine what animal most likely left it. For example, it would be rare to find a mountain lion or mountain goat in an area far from its mountain habitat, and it would be equally rare to find deer on treacherous mountainsides.
  
  
• 4). Check for additional signs of the animal nearby to help you determine exactly what kind of scat you've found. Wild animals tend to leave scat only where they feel comfortable, so you can probably find additional signs of the animal.
  
  

Identify Tracks

• 1). Find a track with a clear impression. If the track isn't clear or deep enough, you may only have enough information to know whether the animal was a mammal or a bird, and whether the animal was hoofed.
  
  
• 2). Notice the overall shape of the track to quickly determine what general family the animal belongs to. Clearly, hoofed animals are easy to determine. Canine tracks look much like dog tracks, and the claws will make an impression. The front foot of a bear track can look similar to canine tracks but are wider and shorter. The back foot, though, has an additional heel mark of a few inches. Feline tracks are similar to canine tracks, but do not generally show the claws.
  
  
• 3). Check the size to have a better sense of the animal that left the track. For example, hoofed tracks all look somewhat similar, but a moose has a track of about 6 inches, while a deer has a track of about 2 inches. Wolves have tracks of about 4 ½ inches long, while a coyote leaves a 2 ½ inch track.