# Ok, what kind of gross animal did this in my laundry room? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226 "2007-01-31T04:00:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/21 "2007-01-31T17:23:11Z")
My money is on a[Beech Marter.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martes_foina) Here is a picture of its [poop.](http://www.wbesusterengraetheide.com/Steenmarter/Uitwerpselen%20steenmarter.JPG) > [@](#): > > The Beech Marten (Martes foina), also known as the Stone Marten, is the most common species of marten in Central Europe. Beech martens are long, slender, short-legged predators with long, bushy tails. They grow to a size of 40 to 50cm in body length and weigh up to two kilograms. > Beech martens frequently live in areas of human settlement, often in attic spaces, but can also be found in the countryside, although they avoid areas where there is no cover. They inhabit the whole of mainland Europe as well as Western and Central Asia. During the day beech martens sleep in cover and hunt for food in the twilight. They are omnivores and their diet includes smaller mammals, earthworms, eggs, and fruit. Might be a new, rare or endangered species in your area ! ---
**Author:** ![TheBaptiste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f6c823/32.png) [@TheBaptiste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBaptiste)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/22 "2007-01-31T18:12:27Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] My money is on a[Beech Marter.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martes_foina) Here is a picture of its [poop.](http://www.wbesusterengraetheide.com/Steenmarter/Uitwerpselen%20steenmarter.JPG) Might be a new, rare or endangered species in your area ! [/QUOTE] That poop does look similar alright, I do not think we have those in NJ though :smack: The ferret thing is interesting too. I am 100% sure I would have noticed a raccoon in the house. There are a few feral cats in the area, but I have to believe I would have noticed one of them in the house as well. The pest removal guy should be here soon and I left the poop in place to get his “expert” opinion on. ---
**Author:** ![TheBaptiste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f6c823/32.png) [@TheBaptiste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBaptiste)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/23 "2007-01-31T18:18:24Z")
I decided to get a membership to the site as I have never found another forum so well versed in animal excrement…and I mean that as a compliment. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/24 "2007-01-31T18:31:04Z")
I’m glad poop has brought you to us. We know about other shit, too. ---
**Author:** ![TheBaptiste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f6c823/32.png) [@TheBaptiste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBaptiste)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/25 "2007-01-31T18:31:51Z")
[QUOTE=Darryl Lict] I think they’re way to big for a rat. I’m thinking a capybara. [/QUOTE] We have been watching alot of Dora as of late 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/26 "2007-01-31T18:32:48Z")
Currently living in the middle of nowhere in the south, we have plenty of wild animals around. Fortunately, they don’t come in the house! That looks like opossum poo to me. ICK ICK and ICK again! Opossums are nasty, vicious, disgusting creatures that should be killed on sight, sound, smell or even suspicion, in my (ever so humble) opinion. Of course, the fact that your BIL claims to have seen a slow-moving, half-tailed grey mouse in the house helps further the opossum theory. Opossums do move very slowly unless the need arises to move quickly (and trust me, they can book it if they want!), and do tend to look like half-tailed mice when babies/immature. Please consult an experienced exterminator as they can be very vicious, contrary to popular belief. They also can be carriers of rabies, as with most warm-blooded wild mammals. ICK, I say, and ICK again – your house may have cost you 800K, but with an opossum infestation, I wouldn't give you .08 for it! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/27 "2007-01-31T18:38:07Z")
I was thinking racoon. I had one in my garage about 8 years ago and its poop looked like this. ---
**Author:** ![TheBaptiste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f6c823/32.png) [@TheBaptiste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBaptiste)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/28 "2007-01-31T22:07:25Z")
Pest removal guy was here. He was not sure what the poop was from, his instinct was rat though…a big mutha! He said whatever it was most have come and gone or there would have been alot more poop around. He refilled all of our bait stations and set two rat traps in the basement, damn are they big traps, break your hand big! I added door sweeps to the garage door and basement door and a rodent/bird cover to the dryer vent. I also filled the hole my brother in law saw the mouse go into. Will update the thread as information becomes available. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/29 "2007-01-31T22:34:05Z")
It may be that we’re looking at atypical specimens here, so it might for instance be a rat with a digestive disorder. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/30 "2007-02-01T01:18:57Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] Hate to say it, but: The Poop Connoisseurs BAND NAME!!! [/QUOTE] I think “Poopasaurus Rex” would be a better band name. > [@Mangetout](#): > > It may be that we’re looking at atypical specimens here, so it might for instance be a rat with a digestive disorder. I think that might be one of the few things that would be worse than having rats in your house- having rats with digestive disorders in your house… Whatever it is, you should nuke it from orbit with [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar_Bomba). That’s what I’d want to do if I thought I had rats in my house. If I did actually find any evidence of rats where I live, people in Australia would be complaining about the noise when I screamed. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/31 "2007-02-01T20:00:53Z")
Looks like goose poop. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/32 "2007-02-02T01:32:44Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Possibly [Opposum poop](http://www.livingwithwildlife.org/wildlifehelp/animals/what_opp.gif) The [babys are kind of mousey looking](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iVUyuWnQxI&mode=related&search=) (video). [/QUOTE] I immediately thought possum poop too. I once found a baby possum in our house – no thanks to my useless beagle – and of course the poor little thing pooped. Looked just like your poop picture. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/33 "2007-02-02T09:32:39Z")
[QUOTE=Laggard] Looks like goose poop. [/QUOTE] Yeah, it kind of does. jcheckwood, you might have a goose infestation. Sneaky bastards those. They get in the walls, under the stove, come out at night looking from bread crumbs. When you turn on the lights at night do you hear them mischievously flapping off\*? Normally the honking sounds will clue you in to a goose infestation (but not always). That,. and finding piles of goose shit in the laundry room. Geese do like clean socks. It seems your only choice to to buy a a three-toed sloth. The sloth won’t catch the geese (too slow you see) but geese find sloth to be humourless and rude and they never share their cookies with geese. That will piss the geese off and they’ll leave on their own accord. Oh, and welcome to the SDMB. \*Flapping Off sounds dirty, but it isn’t. \*\* \*\*Ok, it **can** be but only if you’re a man in a chicken suit ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/34 "2007-02-02T09:45:57Z")
Also, they’re greasy. ---
**Author:** ![TheBaptiste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f6c823/32.png) [@TheBaptiste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBaptiste)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/35 "2007-02-02T20:59:45Z")
Actually the pieces were pretty dry. They look greasy in the pics due to the copious amounts of Clorex clean up I doused them with. I have been checking the traps every day and nothing yet. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/36 "2007-02-03T00:22:24Z")
[QUOTE=Laggard] Looks like goose poop. [/QUOTE] Wasn’t that a song by the Beach Boys? The Little Goose Poop? ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/37 "2007-02-03T04:29:28Z")
[QUOTE=jcheckwood] I added door sweeps to the garage door and basement door and a rodent/bird cover to the dryer vent. I also filled the hole my brother in law saw the mouse go into. [/QUOTE] You’ve just trapped the unknown critter inside with you? :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/38 "2007-02-03T04:38:51Z")
I did get an honerable mention in a thread because I LIKE studying scat… Looks like opossum to me - [check it out.](http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/OPOSSUM-adult-SCAT-REPLICA--P1594C174.aspx) Right down to the 2" size. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/39 "2007-02-04T02:40:43Z")
[QUOTE=jcheckwood] Actually the pieces were pretty dry. [/QUOTE] No, no, _geese_ are greasy. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226/40 "2007-02-04T05:22:57Z")
Which is why you don’t see geese in your traps. They slip right out. Sneaky bastards those geese. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-what-kind-of-gross-animal-did-this-in-my-laundry-room/390226.md?page=3)