Learn about the animals and their scat while making unique seasonal gifts.
There’s always someone during this gift-giving season who is impossible to shop for. So, skip the lines and go for a one-of-a-kind gift that’s fun to make: scat ornaments.
If you’ve spent any time out on the trails of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you’ve seen scat – otherwise known as animal poop. Scat is a great way to identify which animals have passed by before you, since different animals have very different scat formations.
There’s always someone during this gift-giving season who is impossible to shop for. So, skip the lines and go for a one-of-a-kind gift that’s fun to make: scat ornaments.
If you’ve spent any time out on the trails of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you’ve seen scat – otherwise known as animal poop. Scat is a great way to identify which animals have passed by before you, since different animals have very different scat formations.
For instance, the California mule deer leaves a pile of pellets, 50 or more at a single “casting,” or pile. Coyotes eat both plants and animals, so their scat varies depending on what they’ve eaten: reddish after a berry feast, blackish if they’ve eaten a small animal. Bobcats have scat that looks like Tootsie Rolls, and mountain lion scat will sometimes be full of the small bones and fur of their prey.
These differences will be discussed during the “Seasonal Scat Gifts” craft-and-hike activity on December 15. The program will begin with a short nature walk in Limestone Canyon to try to see scat in its natural state along the trails. Then the group will head back to the Augustine Staging Area to craft their own scat masterpieces. Examples of various scat types will be available, along with clay and other materials to construct ornaments.
This activity is open to anyone ages 7 and older, and is free. Pre-registration is required, to ensure that there are enough scat-making materials available for everyone. Participants should wear clothes appropriate for crafting and getting a little dirty. For information on this and other upcoming programs in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org/activities.
These differences will be discussed during the “Seasonal Scat Gifts” craft-and-hike activity on December 15. The program will begin with a short nature walk in Limestone Canyon to try to see scat in its natural state along the trails. Then the group will head back to the Augustine Staging Area to craft their own scat masterpieces. Examples of various scat types will be available, along with clay and other materials to construct ornaments.
This activity is open to anyone ages 7 and older, and is free. Pre-registration is required, to ensure that there are enough scat-making materials available for everyone. Participants should wear clothes appropriate for crafting and getting a little dirty. For information on this and other upcoming programs in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org/activities.
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