Is This Black Bear Scat?

Ok...for all the out-of-work comedians the Pall Mall pack was all I had on me to show the size contrast. I first started seeing sign two weeks ago around a locus tree that blew down in a storm. The deer seemed to like the top leaves judging by the "raisonettes" left around. Then I found loaf shaped piles maybe 6" long by 4" wide. First thought was a massive buck. Inside is green like a deer pile. But these were several times bigger than any buck droppings I have seen around here, and this place is lousy with deer. Lots of wine berry bushes, oaks, the crab apple trees, and such. The garbage cans are in the garage (doors closed). I live on 20 acres in western Loudoun County and it's still mostly woodland here. Appalachian Trail is about three miles from me. I plan on putting out the game camera tonight to see if I can get a photo. My only concern is taking out the dogs for their last dew drop of the night and blundering into him-her. I figure it's a youngster looking for a territory of his own. Lots of flat landers moving in with bird feeders and plates of food outside for their cats and dogs. I carry a 696 when I take the dogs out at night in case of a coyote with a death wish. I may have to switch to my 4" 629 now.
 
I knew this thread was gonna be fun! Wasn't disappointed, either.
I didn't see bird seed in it, but then I didn't really want to zoom in too much, trying to eat a sammich here.
There's usually berries, seeds, hair,etc. in it but depends on what it's been eating.
I didn't see much in that.
I'd go by BearBio's thoughts on it.
 
Last edited:
That looks just like the poop some friends of ours found in their driveway of the house they bought in north Georgia a few weeks back. A few days later they found some fresh tracks...the bear was still standing in them.

We have a coffee table that is a sheet of glass on a molded resin bear base. They told me the bear they saw was three times the size of our table bear.

Bear poop can contain feathers, fur, berries, apple and pear parts, you name it. A bear will and can eat most anything.
 
The OP need not worry about walking his dogs at night, he should have no problem seeing those Pall Malls glowing in the dark if the bears are around. In a few years, if the bears stay in your area, they will be coughing and hacking up a lung, as cigarettes are hazardous to one's health. Keep an eye open for a set of tracks that appear to be two wheels set about 6" apart. This will be the bears with COPD, pulling their oxygen tanks through the yard.
 
tumblr_mn8t3nLHNG1qzmh88o1_500.jpg


Scatman...
 
If I can find a copy of my thesis, I'll post the results of the scat analysis. I compared "rural" bear scat (500 m or more from a campsite, house, etc) and "urban" scat (less than 500 m). It was deer season had a lot of deer hair (gut piles?), beers and wasps, manzanita and bitter cherry seeds. honey comb. Urban bear scat had McDonald, KFC and other fast food, condiment pouches (mayonnaise and tartar sauce predominated), domestic fruits (avocados, figs), rose hips, etc.

The second bear we trapped, we had to "free trank" (no trap), so he got a pretty good dose of tranquilizer. He went down between two cars on a car port. Slept forever. Got to be about 8 AM and the homeowners wanted to go to work but had a half-way recovered bear on their patio (The trank works off the opposite from how it takes affect: tail towards the head and then head back to the tail). We were throwing rocks at him and doing everything we could to get him awake. No Go. About 9 AM, he finally got up and around. Went over to a 50lb bag of dog food and ripped it open (Why they had 50 lbs sitting on the patio, I don't know). Ate about 10 lbs and went to the fish pond and drank what looked like 5 gallons of water (and likely a couple of goldfish!). Then he went over to sleep off his drug hangover!
 
Boy, you guys really know a lot about . . . . . . . . . . . . .
scat.
 
I just set up the game camera aimed under the crab apple tree. Hopefully I'll have something to post in the morning. We have the occasional blackie wander thru from time to time. Usually in late summer when the rains stop and the mountain springs dry up. They come down looking for water and easy chow. Maybe 15 years ago, I was on the back deck and saw what I thought was a Newfoundland (big black dog) at the edge of my woods. When it turned to walk away and did that side to side move I knew it weren't no dog. Couple days later a friend with bee hives a mile away told me a bear tore up his hives. With all the houses being built around here ('bout the only thing they still plant in Loudoun County) my visitor may have been pushed out of his range. My main worry is he wanders onto the highway nearby.
 
half-lug said:
Wanna git curious? Take a stick and break it apart....you surely see the bruin's diet habits.
Click to expand...

Hold on a minute here. That's some investigatin' yer up to. On one of the off channels on cable, they've got this series of shows on Alaska. And the darn fool is pickin' up the "dung" and breakin' it apart with his fingers to see what the critter's been eatin. So's just how come that feller on TV is usin' his fingers and you're all squeamish and suggestin' we use a stick?

Worse, on that same show we saw them all eatin' and stuff, but never once (here in KY we call it "oncet") saw him wash his hands. Even here in Kentucky we practice good hygiene. I figure that feller doesn't need salt and pepper on his food, he uses finger seasoning instead.

And just so you don't think I'm too cityfied, I actually have a couple of books on the subject of scat. But I don't need them to ID the content. And really I don't care who or what put 'em there.
 
I have seen a lot of bear scat/poop in my back yard. The bears in my neck of the woods smoke Chesterfields but are good about breaking the butts down. I have seem berries, grubs , honey comb, what looked like rabbit fur, chipmunk fur, apple bits. Someone said they like to poop in the road, that's may true, but the like to poop in my yard.

A rabbit and a bear were both taking a dump. the bear asked the rabbit if his poop stuck to his fur, the rabbit said he doesn't have that problem with poop sticking to his fur. The bears grabs the rabbit and wipes his behind.
 
rburg said:
Hold on a minute here. That's some investigatin' yer up to. On one of the off channels on cable, they've got this series of shows on Alaska. And the darn fool is pickin' up the "dung" and breakin' it apart with his fingers to see what the critter's been eatin. So's just how come that feller on TV is usin' his fingers and you're all squeamish and suggestin' we use a stick?

Worse, on that same show we saw them all eatin' and stuff, but never once (here in KY we call it "oncet") saw him wash his hands. Even here in Kentucky we practice good hygiene. I figure that feller doesn't need salt and pepper on his food, he uses finger seasoning instead.

And just so you don't think I'm too cityfied, I actually have a couple of books on the subject of scat. But I don't need them to ID the content. And really I don't care who or what put 'em there.
Click to expand...

Y'all know that thee could not possibly be a thread about bear poop without Rburg chiming in. :D
I am a bit upset that Sip hasn't clocked in. I mean a picture of a pack of Pall Mall Menthols lying with two piles of bear poop just scream Sip!! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

CAJUNLAWYER
Caladiums and back yard enjoyment
Replies
9
Views
485
CAJUNLAWYER
CAJUNLAWYER
C
Four years sure flew by...
Replies
6
Views
960
Capt Steve
C
Faulkner
Tales from the Faulkner Files: Vehicle vs deer
2 3
Replies
42
Views
2K
steelslaver
steelslaver
P
.357 Mag Pressure Signs: How Sticky is Too Sticky?
2 3
Replies
44
Views
2K
rockquarry
R
Burnston
A Potent Pre-War
Replies
4
Views
607
S&W ucla
S&W ucla

Latest posts

Back
Top