Scat is a funny word. It can be something you yell at a stray cat, or it can refer to nonsensical syllables sung in jazz music. But today we’re going to talk about the least appealing definition: animal poo. Yes, it’s gross, but scat is actually a very important tool for biologists. You can identify the presence of an animal by the droppings it leaves behind. The location where scat is found can sometimes shed light on the animal’s behavior and habits. And for those with strong constitutions (and perhaps gloves), examining the contents of the scat can tell you what the animal has been eating. Have we established a healthy respect for scat yet?

About a week ago, I was in the field doing some research at one of my favorite CWC Nature Preserves in the town of Chautauqua. As I trudged through the swampy muck, I noticed some muddled footprints on the bank of the creek. Birds were singing their little hearts out as I continued on along the edge of the beaver pond where dozens of frogs squealed as they leapt to safety. In the woods, there were lovely purple trillium, a field of mayapple and some bloodroot. When I’d finished my fieldwork, I set out back across the swamp.

That’s when I found it. Along the stream bank were multiple piles of scat. The contents of these piles were mostly fish scales and crayfish shells. Multiple piles of scat containing fish scales and crayfish parts along a streambank indicates the presence of a very interesting animal-the North American River Otter.

River otters choose a specific place to communally “do their business,” so to speak. This place is called a latrine site, and they are usually located along the banks of a creek or river. Otters mark latrine sites with scent in order to communicate with other otters. Spring and fall typically see higher traffic at the latrine, as spring breeding and the fall emergence of the young-of-the-year produce more otter activity in the area.

Remember how I said scat is a valuable tool? Since otters are active mostly at night, I may never have known they were there without the scat.

The playful river otter was historically extirpated in much of the U.S. and Canada due to habitat loss and over-harvesting. Thanks to more recent conservation efforts and re-introduction, otters are now making a comeback in New York state.

It’s exciting that otters have made themselves at home on one of our preserves, and it’s rewarding to know that we’ve been able to protect vital habitat for these amazing creatures.

Conserving places like this is only possible because of your support. These wild places not only provide habitat, but they also protect, store, filter, and deliver clean waters to our lakes, streams, and drinking water supplies. Your generous contributions allow us to protect these sites forever.

On behalf of the otters and all the other wildlife that thrive on our preserves, thank you.

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a local nonprofit land trust and watershed education organization that works to protect water quality through the conservation of lands that store, filter and deliver clean water to the county’s lakes, streams and wells. The CWC promotes healthy watershed practices and offers technical assistance and land consultations to landowners through its Healthy Landscaping-Healthy Waters Program. For more information or to sign up for CWC’s e-news club, visit chautauquawatershed.org or Facebook.com/chautauquawatershed.