Squirrels are cute and fluffy, but they can also be a nuisance when they leave their droppings in your yard or garden. But what does squirrel poop look like? Knowing what to look for can help you identify whether squirrels or some other animal left the droppings around your home. In this article, we’ll discuss the appearance, size, color, and smell of squirrel feces so that you can easily recognize it if you find any on your property.
Make sure to read over everything to get the full story!
Table of Contents
What does squirrel poop look like?
Squirrel poop is typically small and cylindrical in shape, ranging from one-half of an inch to two inches long. It is usually dark brown or black in color, with a glossy sheen when fresh. The droppings may have white tips due to the presence of undigested plant material, such as nuts and seeds. As with other types of animal droppings, squirrel scat can be somewhat smelly when fresh. However, the smell quickly dissipates over time.
Squirrels and rats typically have very similar droppings, however, the squirrel excrement will be quite a bit smaller (comparatively that is). Rats have excrement about the size of 3/8 inches, while squirrels have 1/8 inch droppings. This is on average, so some droppings might exceed the normal size.
You can also tell the difference by looking at the color. Over time, squirrel poop will become a lighter color, while rat poop will stay darker. Just this difference alone might help you tell the difference between the two.
What Do Squirrels Eat?
Squirrels are primarily herbivores (although they are technically omnivores) that feed on a variety of plant-based food items. This includes nuts, seeds, fruit, flowers, buds, and other materials they can scavenge in the environment. They also have been known to eat small insects and even eggs if given the opportunity. While their diet varies depending on the time of year and what is available in their environment, it typically does not include meat.
Because their diet consists of mostly plants and nuts, you can usually tell squirrel feces apart rather easily.
Where do Squirrels Poop?
Squirrel droppings are often found in large clusters near tree stumps and other places where the animals frequently gather to feed. In some cases, their latrines may contain more than one type of seed or nut. This indicates that the squirrels are caching food for later use. If you come across a pile of droppings with several different types of seeds and nuts mixed in, it is likely a sign that there are squirrels nearby!
Is Squirrel Poop Dangerous?
Squirrel poop can be quite dangerous. Squirrel droppings can carry potentially dangerous diseases, such as leptospirosis, so be sure to wear gloves and a face mask when handling them. If you find large amounts of droppings in one area, contact an animal control expert to have them professionally removed. This will help prevent the spread of disease and keep your family safe from potential harm.
As with any animal, you shouldn’t be handling their feces or any other solids/liquids that come out of their body without some form of protection. Keep your pets away from them as well!