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VICIOUS SCAT & ANIMAL TRACKS

"Oh no! What did I step in again?"

Scat. It's an excellent way to identify what type of wildlife has been on the trail. Scat knowledge can greatly benefit the Outdoor Adventurer's nature excursion. Most of us recognize bird and mouse droppings on sight. But what about raccoons, possums, bears? Turkeys, bobcats and innocent rhinos?

Some Interesting Facts

- A predator's scat may contain bones and the fur of their unlucky victim.

- Bird scat is responsible for the propagation of many trees.

- Scat can help to identify plant sources in the area that sustain inhabiting wildlife.

A few facts surrounding Toxoplasmosis:

A fair number of cats have been alienated by their owners due to fear of Toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted from animal to human. However, cats aren't the only carriers of this microscopic parasite.

Toxoplasmosis has been around for a long while, discovered in 1908.

Scientists estimate that about one-third of adults residing in the United States and Europe have been exposed to Toxoplasmosis.

How transmission of Toxoplasmosis occurs: 1) by consumption of meat from infected animals, 2) from an infected pregnant mother to the unborn child, and by 3) ingestion of the contaminated dust.

Bottom line: cook meat thoroughly, wash vegetables thoroughly, do not change the cat's liter box during pregnancy, and thoroughly wash your hands and the cooking surface after handling raw meat. 

Bat Guano

Caves offer rich supplies of bat guano which is a valuable material for fertilizer. The Carlsbad Caverns has a guano deposit that is more than 1/4 of a mile in length, 100 feet wide and 100 feet deep. Now that's 'a lotta' guano!

Salmonella

Chickens are generally associated with salmonella, but the bacteria can be transported by any infected animal or person. The key in avoiding Salmonella food poisoning is to thoroughly cook all meat, wash your hands and cooking surfaces after handling raw meat, store meat at proper temperatures before and after cooking, and thoroughly wash all veggies before consumption. It's also a good idea to wash your eggs before cracking - and if you find an egg that's cracked in your carton, toss it to be on the safe side.

Where to Find Scat

So where should you look for interesting scat? Most animals aren't particular when they lay their fluff so one of the best sources of locating scat is on the hiking trail. Another great source is near a water source.

You can learn a lot by observing scat - just watch where you step along your journey.

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