Gray Fox Scat Examination
Examining scat contents can help a scientist or tracker determine the diet of the animal. In this case, there was a gray fox scat deposited on a deck. I let it dry in the sun so it would be easier to break apart. Then, I broke it up to examine the contents and determine what this fox was eating. Animal diets vary over the course of a year, and with food availability. So, it is interesting to examine what's in them to monitor changes in diet over time. As trackers, this can help us determine where we might find particular types of animal activity. For scientists, determining diet is part or learning about the biology of each species. Scientists have DNA technology nowadays, but trackers in the field can make a quick examination to tell roughly what the animal has been feeding on. I recommend wearing gloves when examining any scats.