Fake Animal Scat

Objectives

• Explain how scientist can determine what an animal eats by examining its waste.

Materials

• Per Group or Student:
  oatmeal (quick-cooking, but not instant, works best)
  cocoa powder
  artificial Sweetener (i.e. Sugar Twin)
  water

Key Questions

• What might you find in real scat?
• How do scatologists use scat to learn about animals?
• How does the scat of herbivores or carnivores differ?Do some research on an animal and identify what it eats. Roll some pieces of its food into the scat and have a friend dissect it. Can they determine what it is and guess what type of animal made it?

What To Do

1. On some wax paper or a paper plate, use fingers to grind oats into finer pieces. Use about 1/3 cup of oatmeal. This may take a few minutes.
2. Add about 1 teaspoon of cocoa and 1 teaspoon of artificial sweetener (this acts as a binding agent. Sweetener is more effective than sugar for this).
3. Add some warm water a little at a time until you arrive at a consistency that will allow you to roll and form the scat into the desired shape.
4. Dust or roll the scat in a mixture of cocoa powder and artificial sweetener to finish.
5. Serve on some toilet paper for full effect.
6. Enjoy!

Extensions

• Research animal scat and shape your fake scat to that of a particular animal, you could add some seeds and/or raisins to form a good representation. Can other students identify what animal created it?
• Do some research on an animal and identify what it eats. Roll some pieces of its food into the scat and have a friend dissect it. Can they determine what it is and guess what type of animal made it?

Other Resources

National Park Service | Great Basin Track and Scat

Books | “Grossology” Series:  Grossology, Grossology and You, and Animal Grossology by Sylvia Branzei

Alberta Parks | Animal Signs Take Home Book