Though most view animal droppings as trivial and a nuisance on their land, there is value in identifying and acting upon the various types of poo that you may encounter. One such use is to know what kind of animals are living near your property. This enormous clue can help you in preventing their continued existence if they are an invasive species. Below are some helpful tips to identify the major types of pest excrement, some tips on how to deal with them, and finally what to do if they are inside your home.

Rat

With brown and solid droppings, and a half inch in length, if you find rat droppings it could be an indication of an infestation. Obviously, make sure to clean the mess as this poop carries many bacteria. Setting some traps would be a helpful decision as well.

Mouse

These droppings resemble grains of rice. These little creatures adapt and thrive in a variety of environments. Mouse poo is a telltale sign of an infestation of an animal that produces up to 8 liters annually.

Bat

Guano, or bat feces, looks like dark grains of rice. They are long pellets and collapse when prodded. If you find these droppings, lay a piece of cardboard on top of the droppings. If more poop rains down on it, then you have bats living in your space. They defecate 20-30 times per day so it can quickly become an issue, especially given that they carry an array of diseases.

Squirrel

With a cylinder shape and rounded edges, these droppings are brown and red depending on the critters diet. They measure 8 mm to ⅜ of an inch. Squirrels are almost unavoidable as they love wooded areas. They urinate constantly so be aware as this is their signal to other squirrels.

Possum

These feces resemble dog droppings and tend to be clustered in one area. Seeing as they like to live in human dwellings, calling a professional is your most prudent route.

Skunk

Their droppings look similar to raccoons or cats but the contents usually contain undigested berries, fur, or feathers. Check for holes or openings around your property as these creatures like to burrow and stay.

Fox

2-3 inches in length with pointed ends characterize a fox poop. They are attracted to human food smells. However, if they have created a den they are typically harmless and will move on once their children have grown. No major action is required.

Snake

They create oblong droppings with a white cap on them. There could be bits of bone or hair from their prey inside. Snakes do not like cold so use that to your advantage. You cannot identify the type of snake by its droppings so assume that it is poisonous. Therefore, call a professional to tackle the problem.

Rabbit

Small and round in shape, these feces will resemble garbanzo beans. This is another harmless species.

Raccoon

2-3 inches in length and tube shaped are the raccoon droppings. They can be messy but typically stay far away from houses.

The next step is what to do if animal droppings are inside your home. The first step is to clean up the mess. It is essential to cleanse the area as the aroma of droppings and urine can cause more animals to come to the area. Beyond that, the choice is yours. If you do not feel comfortable with the quantity of animals in your place then maybe call a professional.