RE: Droppings on stumps
I once watched some chip-monks work all day carrying deer crap up on to my back deck.
I was more than a little befuddled about "why" they were doing it.
A few weeks later I noticed that all the pellets were broken open.
I can only guess that the chipmonks were putting them up to dry, and eating all the "good stuff" from inside each one.
Maybe that is what is happening here.