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Identifying the Animal which left Brown or Black Droppings

Tips for identifying brown or black droppings from wildlife

Are the droppings

Dog sized?  Or Smaller than dog sized/brown-black staining?

 

Dog Sized

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) droppings tend to be 2-3 inches long (like a dog's) and are often filled with remnants of what they have been eating lately. For example, if they are eating corn, you will often find corn remnants in the droppings. The same occurs when they are eating fruit etc.

Caution!! Raccoon feces may contain a dangerous roundworm. To learn more about Raccoon roundworm click diseasesRaccoons also defecate in the same location. These are called toilettes or latrines. The fecal pile, pictured at the right, was found on a residential roof in Longmeadow, MA.

Raccoon droppings, procyon lotor Raccoon droppings on a roof. Photo by Stephen Vantassel
     

 

Smaller than dog sized/brown staining

 

Bats

Near Right Image: Close up of bat droppings with a penny for scale. Note the white speckles in this fresh guano. Those speckles are the remains of undigested insect wings.

Far Right Image: Bats often defecate when leaving the building they are living in. Sometimes you can see droppings caught in spider webs too. Bat droppings will tend to be in piles in the attic below where they roost during the day.

WARNING: Don't enter attics without wearing proper protection, which includes but is not limited to, HEPA Filter Mask, rugged gloves, long pants, and good lighting. Make sure masks are properly fitted and that you are healthy enough to breath with a mask.

bat droppings for scale. Photo by Stephen Vantassel

bat droppings outside an attic vent

Cockroach Droppings

Note the small black flecks between the penny and the exoskeleton.

 

Cockroach droppings

Mouse droppings

Tend to be black (hard when dry) pointed on one end and about 1/4-inch in length. Found in scattered patterns in high traffic areas.

 

Mouse droppings--Photo by Erin Bauer

Flying Squirrels

Warning: Never enter an attic without proper protection. Flying Squirrel excrement has been known to contain typhus.

Near Right Photo: Note how the droppings appear moist. This photo was taken of the area directly below the attic vent the flying squirrels were using to exit and enter the building.

Far Right Photo: Note the subtle staining in the soffet.

Flying squirrel droppings and urine. Photo by Stephen Vantassel

flying squirrel urine and fecal staining on a house soffet

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