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blueberrybundtcake

What's on my stairs?

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

Some critter has been on my back stairs ... pooing. Trying to identify what it is ...

At first I thought it was a pile of hickory/acorn shells, but it's definitely poo looking closer. Squirrel, maybe? It seems like an awful lot for a squirrel ...

Here are the footprints:






And the poo ...



Comments (8)

  • 4 years ago

    I would say racoon.

  • 4 years ago

    Possum or raccoon

  • 4 years ago

    Opossom prints don't look quite right, but I'd believe young raccoon ...



    The deck stair nosing is 3.75" wide and 2.25" thick ...


    The leavings may also be from the neighbor's unpicked/fallen peaches.

  • 4 years ago

    It rained, but the prints actually are still there ...



    I think this might be a front foot (this is the same print as in picture 2). I think picture 1 (curling over the stair nosing) might be back feet.


    Size does seem to match squirrel ... but young raccoon could be squirrel sized ... or maybe the poo and prints aren't from the same animal?

  • 4 years ago

    Squirrel scat are pellets and their prints would be smaller. Invest in a trailcam and you would be amazed at all the critters that show up !

  • 4 years ago

    Oh, I don't need a trail cam to see animals ... turkeys get chased from the yard; falcons and hawks are a common sight, the eagle a bit less, and owls are more heard but occasionally spotted, as well; the goldfinch is adorable harvesting seed from the coneflowers; the pairs of cardinals live in the cedar and play in the lilacs, and various other birds flit through the lilacs and japanese maple (titmice, chickadees and the rest of the standard crew); coyotes/coywolves galavant through the back yard and up through the side; the fox has been seen on numerous occasions near the back pines (the turkeys are scared of it); rabbits and deer of all ages regularly wander through the yard ... the latter are usually caught eating my daylilies or hosta; the groundhog lives in the neighbor's yard (probably under their hot tub) and is quite plump (it waddles and no longer fits through the wall, only over, though it's still pretty capable of climbing and running); we make up stories regarding the crazy squirrels and their antics; the skunk meanders around, more often smelled than seen, but I've got pictures of it, too; chipmunks run up and down the drainspot and bound over the foundation and stone walls; numerous bats swoop around at dusk (little brown ones based on what had to be excluded from the house); and the slinky fishcat (or something like that) can give you chills.

  • 4 years ago

    ^^^Blueberry - what a lovely, evocative piece of writing! I enjoyed it. Have some similarities here, southwest of Worcester, of wildlife. Have yet to see foxes or raptors, but did have coyotes and black bears roaming around some years ago, and occasionally deer, ruffed grouse and bats also. Chipmunks, voles, gray squirrels, rabbits, and lots of them, as well as frogs of various types everywhere...


    I do love country life!

  • 4 years ago

    The toads are so cute! We have to be careful anytime a potted plant comes inside ... have to make sure there isn't a toad in the pot, too. There was a cute little one hopping into the garden the other day as we were weeding the lawn nearby. We ran into a little salamander recently, too!

    I haven't seen a grouse, yet, but there used to be a phesant that could give you a start when taking off.

    Haven't seen a black bear ... and hope the fermenting, fallen peaches don't attract any.

    There is a bobcat that's supposed to live somewhere nearby, though we haven't seen it.