Pinon Pine Nuts?
Did you know they are the vector in spreading the Black Plague in NM periodically?
The Rats who carry plague pee on the pine nuts. (if that is what you have pictured)
Deer scat.
I was thinking deer, rabit, or goat poop.
You’re thinking of hanta virus. Still can kill you.
Reminds me of a story I heard about someone coming to visit a friend in Oregon. The visitor was taken out black truffle hunting in the re-prod...replanted trees, thick cover. They are shown how to scratch around in the needles to find the truffles, and the two separated a bit, talking through the trees. The native would ask how the visitor was doing, and they said “Good...I’m finding a lot.” After a while they regrouped and the visitor showed off his basket of elk turds.
I can’t believe you seriously wrote that. Maybe you need to grab you a handful of them nuts in the pic and chow down. I guarantee you’ll be smarter after the first bite.