Animal sign
Coyote scat: twisted, hairy droppings left right on the trail
Coyotes now live in every state but Hawaii, including big cities. They leave their droppings in the open, on trails and at trail crossings, to mark their ground, so it is one of the easiest signs to find.
How to tell it
- Rope-like and twisted, with tapered, often wispy ends.
- Usually about as thick as a thumb, a few inches long.
- Packed with hair and small bones from mice and rabbits, or with seeds and berry skins in late summer.
- Placed in the middle of a trail, on a rock, or where two paths cross.
Where you find it
Forests, farmland, deserts, suburbs and city parks from coast to coast.
Scientific name: Canis latrans
Look-alikes
Dog droppings are usually smoother and more uniform, without much hair, and often next to footprints of people.
Same twisted shape but thinner, about as thick as a pencil to a finger.
Segmented, blunt pieces, often half buried or with scratch marks nearby.
What it tells you
Fresh coyote scat tells you a coyote is working the area. Coyotes rarely bother people, but they will take cats and small dogs. Their droppings can also carry tapeworm eggs and other parasites, so never handle them.
What to do
- Do not touch it. Use a stick to look inside, or just take a photo.
- Keep small pets leashed or indoors, especially at dawn and dusk.
- If a coyote comes close, stand tall, wave your arms and make noise. Do not run.
- Do not leave pet food or trash outside.
The free app reads your photo, names the likely match, shows its look-alikes, and tells you what has been seen near your ZIP code.
Sources
- National Park Service, Yosemite: The scoop on bear poop
- National Park Service, Cuyahoga Valley: Coexisting with coyotes
Written in our own words from these public sources.