What is mountain lion scat?

Mountain lion scat is lion feces. Male lions create scratch piles and top them with scat to mark their territory. Scat piles are often left near trails, roads, ridgelines and kills.

The mountain lion scratches the ground to create a small pile of soil, which he then urinates on and tops with scat. This is done to protect his territory and family from intruding male lions. Mountain lion scat is often segmented and has an average diameter of 1 inch. It can appear white, as it contains bits of bone and hair from feeding. The surface is generally smooth, and it has a very strong odor.