Backcountry Bucket List #3: Figure Out Who Pooped In The Park

This is #3 in the continuing series of posts from The Backcountry Bucket List.

***************************************************

3.  Figure Out Who Pooped In The Park

One of my favorite books is "Who Pooped In The Park?" Say what you will, but it's a truly awesome book! It's one of my three-year-old-boy's favorite, too (and he can identify many of the animals!). Did you ever think that looking at poop could be fun?

I honestly don't know if "fun" is the right word here, but it is a great excuse to catch your breath while on the trail, identify who might be living in or near a campsite you've chosen, and could help you look smart around your friends. Not to mention that it is actually a safety skill that can come in handy.

This is admittedly strange if you've never thought about poop as other than a gross, yucky substance you want nothing to do with. But you're in the backcountry now, and you should really pay attention to this sort of thing. You don't have to be Grizzly Adams or his buddy Mad Jack, but just a little knowledge can go a long way and make for some interesting discussion.

While hiking in Yellowstone National Park, you might come across a big, fresh, steaming pile. Ok, it probably won't be steaming...I threw that in for a bit of eight-year-old-boy humor that has to accompany any discussion of poop.

In reality, that large pile, when accompanied with the appropriate tracks, could be identified as something non-threatening as a horse or something a bit more interesting like a grizzly bear. With a closer look, you could also tell what he's been eating, of course, and that might indicate how healthy or hungry he is. All of this is good information to have.

If along your hike you come across an area of flat grass, your first question is inevitably "I wonder who slept here last night?" Well, poop can help find your answer. Look around and see what kind of poop in the area is freshest. Maybe it was an elk. Maybe it was a deer. You'll be able to tell by the poop. Who knew?!?!

Poop and tracks go hand in hand. You really should know a little about both. There are some neat  info cards that combine diagrams of tracks and scat of the various animals in the area you might be in. Take one along next time you're hiking, and spend some time looking at the ground.

***************************************************

On a side note, "Who Pooped In The Park" was an inspiration for my book "The Backcountry Kids."  If you have little boys, you MUST have "Who Pooped In The Park."