Use Poos as Clues

Fauna: Introduced SpeciesKaitiaki/Conservation
Written By Kim Manunui

Animal droppings (also called faeces, pellets or scats) are one of the most commonly found signs of pest animals. You may not see the animal, but you might find a (not very nice) sign that they have left to show you that they are around. You might be wondering whether the droppings have been left by an animal that you want to protect, or a sign of a predator lurking in the night and hunting our native wildlife. If the latter is the case, you might like to know what it is, so that you can come up with a plan to get rid of it. Our Nature Connectors on making chew cards and tracking tunnels to help identify pests, might also be useful for you. You may also need to read more about how to trap your pests here in our Nature Connector about trapping.

Go to the Pest Detective website and use the list below to find out what animal the droppings that you have found are likely to be from:

  • Location: habitat (e.g. grassland) and site (e.g. up a tree, near a fence line)

  • Form: separate or clumped? round pellets? tubular? tapered or rounded ends?

  • Size: length and width?

  • Colour and smell

  • Texture: smooth, fibrous?

  • Traces in droppings that might indicate diet or grooming habits: e.g. recognisable traces of fur, feather, plant fibre, seeds, bone, egg shell, insects?

  • Clumped or separate?

HERE is a project where you can share your photos and identifications of animal poo.

*Be safe: faeces can carry dirt and disease – ensure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling droppings.

Try the ‘Whose Poos?’ matching activity below. Answer sheet HERE.

Thanks to Orokonui Ecosanctuary for this fantastic resource

Thanks to Orokonui Ecosanctuary for this fantastic resource

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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