Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
A Brief Tour of Modern Excretions
Based on the malodorous, steaming pile of metaphors related to vomit, urine, and
fecescrossingallculturesandusedthroughouthistory,humanshavehadalongfas-
cination with bodily wastes and the functions that produce them. For example, here
are a few such expressions, best uttered with impassioned aplomb: “You make me
want to puke!” “You're pissing me off!” “Don't give me any crap!” “You're full of
shit!”“Whatkindofcrapisthis?”“Idon'tgiveashit!”Or,atamorejuvenilelevel,
“You poopy head!” All such phrases and the rich heritage behind them hint at how
all of us, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, must puke,
pee, and poop. It's part of what makes us animals.
Thisintrinsicconnectiontoallthingsurinalandfecalisprobablyrelatedtoour
mammalian heritage, in which these products became not just a way to get rid of
bodily wastes but also a form of communication. For example, take your dog out
for a walk and you'll expect it to stop often to sniff at virtually everything. During
this walk, your dog is using its nose like you use your eyes, investigating an olfact-
ory landscape holding thousands of invisible clues, many of which are a result of
secretions by dogs and other mammals in the area, such as urinations, defecations,
mucus, hair, or body scents imparted by rubbing. Whenever I track canines of any
species, whether these are domestic dogs, coyotes, foxes, or wolves, I sometimes
refer to these messages, seen and unseen, as “doggy e-mail.” In such exchanges,
canines post to one another, many of which simply say “I was here,” or more em-
phatically “This is my territory, stay out!” This is why the phrase “marking your
territory” is so commonly associated with urination, while also serving as an apt al-
legory in business and academic practices.
Wastes as signposts can get even more extreme, such as when carnivores com-
pete over territory and use feces to intimidate or terrorize. For instance, while I was
taking a wolf-tracking course in central Idaho, the instructors told us about what
happened when wolves (
Canis lupus
) entered what was formerly coyote (
Canis lat-
rans
) territory. The coyotes picked up the scent of a wolf pack on a trampled trail,
