A droppings walk: in Belgium's Jalhay, a nature guide teaches people to read wild animal poo, and what your dog's or cat's stools say about its health

What happened

On 31 October 2026 the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reported on an unusual outing in Jalhay, a municipality in Liège province on the edge of the High Fens. Nature guide Garry Masson led the first "droppings walk", on which participants learned to read wild animal droppings.

According to the guide, droppings reveal a great deal: what an animal has eaten, when it passed through, where it was heading and what state of health it's in.

The High Fens and their residents

Jalhay is near the High Fens, one of Belgium's best-known nature reserves, with peat bogs, heathland and forests. Red deer, roe deer, wild boar, foxes, badgers and many birds live here, and in recent years wolves have returned to the area too. For naturalists, such places are a real library of signs, where droppings, paw prints and gnaw marks tell of the lives of animals that are rarely seen.

Messages in droppings

Garry Masson explains that territorial animals such as wolves and foxes leave messages in their droppings that other animals "read". Droppings in a prominent spot, on a stone, a stump or a path junction, tell others of the same species that the territory is occupied, who lives there and even what condition it's in. Scent marks are an important part of communication for many mammals.

Thrushes versus predators

The guide also described another surprising use of droppings. He said that when thrushes are attacked by a bird of prey or a crow, the birds gather above it and bombard it with droppings to immobilise it. One participant was surprised to learn that a substance of animal origin is even used in perfumery.

What droppings can tell you

Tracking specialists can identify an animal's species, size, diet and even the season from its droppings. Fox droppings often contain visible fur, the bones of small rodents and berry seeds. Roe and red deer droppings are the firm "pellets" of herbivores. Freshness shows how long ago the animal passed by. Scientists also use droppings for serious research: DNA from them can identify individual animals, estimate numbers and help study disease.

Why wild animal droppings are dangerous for dogs

To a dog, other animals' droppings have an irresistible smell and can sometimes be a "treat". But they can contain parasites and pathogens. Fox droppings in Belgium and neighbouring countries can contain eggs of the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, which is dangerous to people. The UK is free of this parasite, which is why dogs entering Great Britain must be treated for tapeworm. Droppings from various animals can contain roundworm eggs, protozoan oocysts and bacteria such as salmonella. A dog that rolls in or eats droppings can become infected itself and bring parasite eggs into the house on its coat.

Alveolar echinococcosis: what you need to know

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare but serious human disease in which tapeworm larvae develop in the liver. Adult worms live in the intestines of foxes, and sometimes dogs and cats, which become infected by eating mice and voles. People become infected by swallowing microscopic parasite eggs from unwashed hands, berries, vegetables or an animal's coat. Vets prescribe regular tapeworm treatment for dogs that hunt rodents.

Why dogs eat droppings

Eating droppings, known as coprophagia, is common in dogs. Sometimes it's a habit left over from puppyhood, and sometimes a sign of boredom, hunger, nutrient deficiency or digestive problems. Dogs particularly like herbivore droppings and the contents of the cat's litter tray. If your dog constantly eats droppings, talk to your vet to rule out disease, teach a "leave it" command on walks and keep your dog on a lead in places with lots of wildlife.

Why dogs roll in droppings

Many dogs love rolling in droppings and carrion. Scientists have suggested various explanations: a desire to mask their own scent, to bring "news" back to the pack or simply an interest in strong smells. Whatever the reason, after such a walk you should wash your dog and check its coat for ticks and dirt.

How to protect your dog and family

1. Worm your dog regularly, following a schedule set by your vet.
2. Don't let your dog eat droppings, carrion or caught rodents.
3. Wash your hands after walks and contact with your dog, especially children.
4. Wash your dog if it has rolled in droppings.
5. Pick up after your dog to protect other dogs and people.

Autumn ticks

An autumn walk in the woods doesn't just mean droppings: it also means ticks, which remain active in mild weather until late autumn. Check your dog after each walk, especially the head, ears, neck, armpits and groin, and treat it against ticks on time. People on walks should also check their own clothes and skin.

How to pick up after your dog properly

You should pick up after your dog not just in town but also in parks and woods near paths. The eggs of some parasites survive in soil for months and infect other dogs and people. Use bags and put them in a bin rather than leaving them on bushes. It's a matter of consideration for neighbours, children in playgrounds and other animals.

Children, nature and hygiene

Children love exploring animal signs and may follow adults in taking an interest in droppings. It's a great chance to talk about nature, but it's important to explain the rules: look, take photos, touch only with a stick and gloves, and always wash your hands afterwards. That way, discovering nature stays fascinating and safe.

Droppings in the garden: cats and foxes

Droppings from foxes, hedgehogs and cats often turn up in gardens and yards. Wear gloves when gardening and wash your hands after handling soil. It's best to cover children's sandpits to keep cats out, as cat faeces can contain parasites such as Toxoplasma. Wash berries and vegetables thoroughly before eating if they come from beds that foxes can reach.

What a dog's stools say about its health

Vets advise owners to look at their pet's stools regularly, as it's an easy way to spot problems early. A normal dog stool is formed and brown, with no mucus or blood. You should be concerned about:

• diarrhoea, especially if it lasts more than a day or two;
• blood, whether bright red or as a black, tarry stool;
• mucus and white fragments resembling rice or noodles, which may be worms;
• very pale or greasy stools;
• constipation and straining with no result.

Cat stools and the litter tray

In cats, changes in the litter tray also say a lot about health. Diarrhoea, mucus, blood, very hard stools, refusing to use the tray or going outside it are all reasons to take a closer look. It's also important to watch the urine: if a cat, especially a male, keeps visiting the tray and passes small amounts or strains with no result, it may be an emergency.

How often to treat for parasites

Your vet will set a worming schedule that suits your pet's lifestyle. Dogs that walk a lot in woods, hunt rodents or eat carrion or droppings need treatment more often than dogs walked in town. Cats that go outdoors and catch mice need it more often than indoor cats. Puppies and kittens have their own schedule, which you can discuss at the first appointment.

How to provide a stool sample

Your vet may ask you to bring a stool sample to check for parasites. Usually a fresh stool is collected, sometimes over several days, in a clean container and taken to the practice the same day or kept in the fridge until the visit. Regular testing helps your vet choose parasite treatment based on results rather than "blindly".

Droppings as science

Droppings are one of field biologists' main tools. They're used to study the diet of rare species without disturbing them, to identify individual wolves and estimate pack size from DNA, to measure stress levels from hormones and to assess a population's health from parasites and bacteria. Many studies of wild animals in Europe begin with carefully collected samples of droppings.

What this means for Europe

Outings to read animal signs are growing more popular in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and other countries, helping people better understand the nature close to home. For dog owners the main lesson is simple: wild animal droppings are interesting to observe but not to sniff, and certainly not to eat. And your own pet's stools are worth treating as a free daily health check.

When to see a vet

See your vet if your dog's or cat's diarrhoea lasts more than a day, there's blood or mucus in the stool, the stool is black, you notice worms in it or your pet often eats droppings. Get urgent help if diarrhoea comes with vomiting, lethargy or refusal to eat, or if the animal is a puppy, kitten or elderly pet.