| In outdoor contexts the importance of useful forensic evidence cannot be underemphasized.
Innovative means of collecting evidence in these cases is necessary to push such cases forward.
Animal scat theoretically acts as a reservoir of forensic evidence as well. The purpose of the
proposed thesis is to evaluate the likelihood of various taxa scats being the most forensically
viable. This can provide clues as to what animals may have consumed in relation to a forensic
case. The scats of eight common intermountain species were analyzed. The microscopic
taphonomy of bone from scats was described using several histological indices in relation to
digested bone. The use of novel methodologies led to a total of 45 bone fragments from Canis
latrans and 68 from Puma concolor being obtained. Puma concolor had the highest level of
preservation with an OHI / GHI Index value of 5 as well, demonstrating forensic utility.
Key Words: scat, scatology, forensic evidence, osteons, OHI / GHI Index, taphonomy,
histological indices |