Whose scat is that?

[feliciadawn]

I found strange scat (poop) in my not yet secure chicken run. Materials for an electric fence are on order -- with COVID things take a while. The chicks are in a secure coop well before dusk. I just want to figure out what I am dealing with. Can anyone identify?

 

[hayley3]

Kinda looks like something that ate blueberries.

 

[mowin]

Difficult to tell. Nothing to indicate size. Also looks kinda dry and days old.

 

[feliciadawn]

It was dog size -- several inches. It was fresh -- I was digging in that compost pile the day before.

 

[mowin]

Then I'd say neighbors dog.

 

[feliciadawn]

A neighborhood dog would have to get over a 4 foot fence to get into our yard, only to access a compost pile with fruits, vegetable and weed scraps. Our own standard poodle only goes out on a leash now, after killing a month-old chick some weeks ago. He is not allowed near the chicken coop or compost pile. This has to be an animal that is either small enough to go though fence slats, or that is enough of a climber to climb the fence. Likely possibilities are: raccoon, skunk, muskrat, fox, feral cat (all have been sighted in backyard or vicinity in last 2 years)