Updated on March 8, 2023
Coyotes are considered as one of the most clever beasts of North America.
They are slightly smaller than their close relative gray wolf, and also other wolves like the red wolf, etc.
Now, if you want to know whether there are coyotes in your area, then the best thing to do is keep a lookout for the coyote poop (aka: scat or droppings) anywhere nearby. The coyote scat is a clear indication that coyote is present in this area.
But, when it comes to finding coyote poop, the biggest problem is the identification of the droppings. Keep reading to understand how to identify coyote scat and what coyote scat actually looks like. Let’s get started.
See Also: How to Get Rid of Coyotes From Your Property
What Does Coyote Poop Look Like?
If you look at the coyote droppings, you’ll see that their droppings look like a twisted rope with several segments. They’re large and tubular in shape.
Generally, coyote droppings are between 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter, and when it comes to length, they are 3 to 5 inches long.
Male coyote poop is larger than female coyote poop as some male coyote droppings can be up to a length 6 to 12 inches, depending upon the size of the coyote.
One of the essential characteristics that can be used to identify their scat from others is that their poop has long, curly tapering ends.
The coyote feces may contain some features, fur, casings, and bones of small animals like rodents, shrews, rabbits, which they hunt.
If you look closely, you may also find some seeds, grass, nuts, fruits, and berries that they usually eat to remove the intestinal worms present in their digestive system.
Related: What Does Possum Scat Look Like?
Pictures of Coyote Scat
Coyote Poop Identification
If you want to identify whether the poop that you found is of a coyote or not, then you have to take an up close and personal look at the feces.
If the scat are between .75 and 1.5 inches in diameter and 3 to 5 inches long, then it’s very possible that it can be coyote scat, but we can’t be sure about that by just looking at the size.
Coyote poop color normally ranges from black or dark brown to to gray and can contain a mixture of plant matter and some animal matter like fur, casing, and bones of small animals like rabbits, rodents, and other critters that they eat.
Along with that, if the scat has long, curly tapering ends, then there is a good chance that this is coyote feces.
See Also: What Do Fox Droppings Look Like?
Coyote Poop in Your Yard
If you find coyote poop in your yard, what does that mean?
Well, if I find coyote droppings in my yard, my first thought will be that there is at least one coyote in my yard. If it is not present right now, then it certainly was recently.
The coyote scat is a clear indicator that a coyote was present here. If that is the case, you should take some necessary steps because coyotes are known to attack smaller animals like chickens, dogs, cats, rabbits, and others.
Dealing with Coyote and Their Poop Through Pest Control
The fact that you are reading this article means that you’ve spotted certain signs of coyotes (including their poop) on your property.
If it’s an infrequent occurrence, then you can likely handle the situation on your own. However, it is always better to hire a professional who could deal with this more skillfully in case of too many sightings.
Click on the link below to get free quotes from multiple Pest Control Companies so that you can get the best prices and choose the most cost-effective alternative for you.
Final Words
If you keep these things in your mind, you may be able to distinguish coyote scat from the scat of other animals.
I hope this article has provided you with the necessary information on how to spot the droppings of the coyote.
In case you find their poop in your backyard, it’s time to take proper preventive measures to ensure they don’t come back and visit you again.
Coyotes are known to attack smaller animals and pets therefore it’s imperative to be careful and take certain measures to make sure they don’t become a frequent visitor on your property.
Have you experienced coyotes on your property at some point? Leave a comment below.
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I know for a fact that there are coyotes in my area because I’ve personally seen them several times. I’ve also noticed tracks in the snow. I started keeping my cat indoors prior to a neighbor mentioning having seen one just because I didn’t like him going out in the first place. I was especially glad I decided to after finding out they had taken up residence in our area. Since then I’ve seen one close up once and I’ve also witnessed them running from houses up the street from me into a nearby wooded area on several occasions after dark. The one time I saw one close up it was running across a rather busy street as I was driving. At first I thought it was someone’s pet dog but I came up on it as it made it to the sidewalk at which point it turned around to look back at the street it had just crossed and appeared very panicky. Honestly, the sight of it took my breath away. This was the first time I’d ever seen one in person and was taken aback in awe of how incredibly beautiful an animal it is. I’d imagine it’s quite comparable to seeing a wolf in the wild. I’ve seen a wolf, well it was reportedly 90% wolf, in a kennel once. I’ve never seen such a large chested dog, we’ll call it since that’s all I’ve to compare it’s size to, in all my life. It was beautiful as well but there’s something a wild animal loses when it’s caged.
Anyways, today I went to reposition a large planter I have sitting on my porch but when I looked over to the area in which I had planned to move it to, I noticed a rather substantial deposit of poo. I’m not familiar with all the behaviors of coyotes but I do know that the animal went through quite a bit in order to do it’s business where it did. There’s about 6ft of concrete that stretches out from the front door of my place. But, our door is recessed from the front wall of our house about a half a foot further than the concrete and also our garage which extends about 5ft from our front door. I’d say there’s about 4-5ft of space between the garage and the other wall which leaves about 2ft of walkway space between my porch and driveway as I’ve got two large trellises placed at the front edge of my porch that I grow morning glories and moonflowers on. I do this to shade our front door from the hot afternoon sun as it faces the west. The enclosed area leading to our front door turns into a hot box otherwise and draws in a lot of flies. Not exactly something you want buzzing by your front door in swarms. I just have a hard time seeing a wild animal backing itself into such a tight corner so close to the presence of humans without reasoning. It would be nice to know if this was some sort of territory marking behavior. Could it be because of my two kitties or do they just like to do their business in a more secluded location? There’s no vines growing here yet but the two trellises don’t leave any room for a coyote to pass through so it had to walk onto our porch through the 2ft of walkway space I spoke of earlier. If you’re so inclined, I’d greatly appreciate any information you could provide me with as to what, if anything, this type of behavior from a coyote might indicate. Thanks.