Scat identification - nw Ontario

[u/Difficult-Waltz-2070]

Found these on my deck right next to each other as shown in nw Ontario this morning (neither was there previous evening). Would love to know what they were.

[u/sachmo_plays]

They look like 2 different kinds. The smaller one that is more plentiful looks maybe like a rabbit/prey animal. The bigger pile looks more like a fox/predator animal.

My dog will mark urine or feces when another animal leaves scat in the yard. She is a hunting dog.

[u/m_zelenka → u/sachmo_plays]

Agree about the bigger pile. The smaller one looks like grouse droppings

[u/sachmo_plays → u/m_zelenka]

Interesting. I’m in New England and have never seen a grouse. Now I know what they are. Thanks.

[u/Difficult-Waltz-2070 → u/m_zelenka]

Oh thanks! So the pellets of plant material look like grouse- we do have grouse everywhere so that makes sense just never thought of it… the other one I was thinking was most likely fisher/marten/skunk/fox but don’t know how to differentiate. Any thoughts?

[u/strix_nebul0sa → u/Difficult-Waltz-2070]

I think the "predator pile" (the abundant one is absolutely, 100% grouse scat!) is mustelid scat.

Size and season would indicate mink or marten. I'm leaning marten, because it looks like that scat is mostly all from one meal (fitting with an animal that would eat a squirrel, rabbit...grouse...and be happy for a bit, as opposed to a mink eating a mouse, some carrion, maybe a fish, etc).

How close to heavy coniferous forest and/or water (creeks, swamps, ponds, lake or river) are you? I feel most of NW Ont fits the description of "Close by to both those things, why are you even asking?" but there are pockets (thinking of the area around Emo) that are more open farmland...which might suggest a small skunk.

When was this photo taken, and about what temperature was it the night the scat was left? Asking to help rule out small skunk.