What Scat Is That?
by Jessica DeFord on Aug 11, 2025
God knows every detail of every animal. That is mind-blowing to think about! Psalm 50:10–11 says, “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.”
God knows everything about animals because God is the Creator. He made everything!
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16–17)
It would be impossible for a scientist to know everything about every animal. But God, in his kindness, has allowed scientists to learn more about animals. A neat way that a scientist can learn more about animals is through animal traces. Animal traces are “clues” that animals leave behind such as eggs, nests, or sheds. Or they can be clues that animals have on their body such as patterns in fur.
Did you know that deer shed their antlers every year? Many people like to go shed hunting to look for antlers. Deer antler sheds are a clue or trace that a deer was in the woods. If you are out walking in the woods from January to March, you might be able to find a deer antler shed.
Another animal trace that can be used to learn about animals is a bit stinky. Can you think of what animal trace might be stinky? Scat! Scat is animal droppings or poop. Did you know that there are scientists who study animal poop? They are called scatologists.
A scatologist can learn a lot about an animal by examining their scat. Scat can even be fossilized! Fossilized poop or scat is called coprolite and can help a scatologist learn about animals that lived in the past. Scat comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors depending upon the animal.
1) Size
A measuring tape is a useful tool for a scatologist. Some animals have small scat, and some animals have big scat. For example, a chipmunk has scat that is similar in size to a grain of rice whereas bear scat is large measuring anywhere from 5 to 12 inches in length. Measuring the width and length of scat can help a scatologist identify which animal pooped!
2) Shape
Scat shape also varies depending upon the animal. Some animals such as deer, rabbits, or goats leave small, round scat called pellets. Plant-eating animals called herbivores typically leave this type of scat. Meat eaters or carnivores such as bobcats and coyotes typically leave long, tubular-shaped scat.
3) Color
An animal’s diet or what they eat can change the color of their scat. Animals that eat plant material might have greenish-colored scat. Bird scat is often white because of the presence of a waste product called uric acid. Scat color might also be an indicator of animal health. If an animal is sick, their scat might change from a dark color to a lighter color
Wow! A scatologist can learn a lot from animal poop. It’s important to note that, in the fallen world we live in, animal scat might be dangerous to handle because it may contain parasites or pathogens that can make people sick. Therefore, if you aren’t a trained scatologist, be careful if you come in contact with animal scat. You can still use these three clues (size, shape, and color) to learn more about scat without picking it up. Animal poop is a fun example of an animal trace that can be used to marvel at God’s creation!
As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. (Job 5:8–9)
