Mara Adamitz Scrupe, "Scat: What Do Bears Eat," 2010-2012
To determine which animals inhabit and/or visit Mara's property, which doubles as an unofficial wildlife sanctuary, she worked with University of Nebraska-Lincoln biologist Stephen M. Vantassel from the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management to identify 20-25 scat samples (wild animal droppings) that she collected over three years. He identified the diets of black bears, red and gray foxes, raccoons, coyotes and bobcats traipsing about her Virginia property.
His findings help Mara to decide what foods to offer (or not) on her property should she opt to encourage or discourage these visiting critters. For farmers who practice permacultural farming, the more animals the farm feeds the better, though of course they often restrict animal food to agricultural Zone Four, which doesn’t feature human food.
His findings help Mara to decide what foods to offer (or not) on her property should she opt to encourage or discourage these visiting critters. For farmers who practice permacultural farming, the more animals the farm feeds the better, though of course they often restrict animal food to agricultural Zone Four, which doesn’t feature human food.
Copyright 2017 Sue Spaid