Scat: The Incredible Science of Wildlife Poop [Hardcover]

Discover how poop can actually help protect our planet in this nonfiction book on the nutrient cycle and scientific problem solving.

What could be more revolting, useless, and downright disgusting than poop? But in nature’s endless and complex cycles, there’s no such thing as waste. The poop of wild animals is full of surprising power: it can be food, shelter, a way for creatures to communicate, and more. For scientists, scat can reveal clues about how animals are responding to climate change threats.

From researchers in India using tiger poop to track the endangered big cat to scientists in Mexico using bat guano to help replant a forest destroyed by fire, Scat shows how scientists are getting creative when it comes to studying animals and protecting ecosystems from climate change.

Award-winning nonfiction author Anita Sanchez’s writing is clear, concise, and lightly punny, providing readers with an accessible introduction to the nutrient cycle and the world of animal poop that is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Back matter includes a glossary, a photo guide to common animal scat, and more.

A Books for a Better Earth™ Title

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionThis title would be perfect for a research project on the subject.
—School Library Journal

Enhanced by an inserted “Field Guide to Scat in Your Neighborhood” but sticking to the strict definition of scat as "wildlife poop", Sanchez piles on facts about how this uniquely valuable product plays a vital role in spreading seeds and nutrients worldwide across land and sea.
—Booklist

Excretion excitement is everywhere in this enthusiastic and informative book, which holds its nose, looks closely, and widens il“;