Identifying Deer Scat: How Diet Changes Droppings Appearance

Q: I'm trying to find out who left this gift in my yard in Sandy Springs. Could it be a bear? Any ideas?

UGA wildlife expert Mike Mengak says: on dry pine needles with no rooting signs, this looks like deer scat. Normally deer pellets are separate, but rich vegetation (kudzu, apples, garden vegetables, fertilized pasture) produces clumped droppings like those pictured. Not unusual.