Moose Poop

(Pictures supplied by AllAboutMoose)

How do you know if it is moose scat? I recently found this light brown/pale coloured scat on my property, it also had seeds like grains almost in it. Do you think this is moose scat or some other kind of scat?

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Dear Anonymous,
If you could email a picture it would be helpful to see what you refer to.

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There are many configurations you will find moose droppings in. Old dried out ones are very common, and it can be difficult if not impossible to say for sure which animal left them.

Moose and Elk droppings from a mature animal will most certainly be larger than say from a deer. And of course dropping from a deer will be larger again than a rabbits.

I am going to assume you are referring to scat that looks similar in size to a chocolate covered almond. In other words close to an inch in length and 5/8 inch in diameter. If this is the case it is most certainly moose or elk. Which one for sure... well that depends. Which of those animals live in your area. You will not find many areas where moose and elk share the same habitat.

You can see from my pictures there is quite a difference between the scat piles. All of these pictures were taken in the same area of the province.

The dried out scat is typically from a wintering animal. This is because of the food they eat at that time of year: twigs, branches and other low in nutrient foods.

In contrast is the moose poop from the early summer. The digestive systems of ungulates are overloaded with the juices from the fresh growth at that time of year and consequently their scat is much looser.

Here is a another question from Pat about identifying moose poop.


I hope this answers your question. If not please use the comment form and add further detail or email me.

Thanks Mark