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Vombatus ursinus
Wombats produce 4-8 of these cube-shaped scats per deposition event and they frequently deposit them on raised surfaces such as piles of dirt, logs or even mushrooms. The height of the deposit is typically about the height of a wombat’s nose. This serves to advertise their presence to other wombats. The fact that the scats are square rather than round means that they are less likely to roll off a raised surface.
Cradle Mountain National Park.
5 Comments
The must have an interestingly shaped colon, John. ;-) I have a book called "Tracks, scats, and Other Traces" which is very helpful.
I like this pictures! I remember that the square shapes puzzled me so much when the first time I encountered the droppings somewhere near Arthur Lake, Tasmania. The droppings of the ring-tail possums also amazed me. They eat a tough grass that makes the droppings like beads on a thread. I enjoyed identifying animals by their fresh. Cheers.
Oh Lori, that is wonderful. My coon has been behaving so I haven't gotten a picture of any of his scat yet.
People think you are kidding when you tell them wombat poo is square.
Wombats must have a very unique colon. At least it makes it easy to know when they've been here - there's no mistaking that.
Amazing