Forensic experts! What the heck happened to this deer??

[Relic]

Warning - this is gross. view at your own risk.

Check it out, this is what greeted me this morning about 100' from my bedroom window:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...mack/field.jpg

See the little speck? That was a deer carcass that was laying on the roadside in the woods off to the left of the frame. It had been hit by a car about 2-3 weeks ago. It's about 50-60' from where it was yesterday. Something moved it overnight last night...

Closer:
it's half gone. It was not like that about 3-4 days ago. It was mangled at the time but the belly and guts were still there:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ck/carcass.jpg

Closed up of ribs, they look like they're been gnawed off pretty extensively, if you look closely you'll see (what look like) teeth marks. eew... yeah something's been gnawing on these but what? My best guess would be coyote? We get bears on rare occasion but I saw no tracks - bears are heavy.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...tmack/ribs.jpg

So, what's been chomping on this thing?

[BurningSkies]

My guess would be coyote too...Fun chance for you to set up a stop action camera and get some pics at night.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by Relic

Warning - this is gross. view at your own risk.

Check it out, this is what greeted me this morning about 100' from my bedroom window:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...mack/field.jpg

See the little speck? That was a deer carcass that was laying on the roadside in the woods off to the left of the frame. It had been hit by a car about 2-3 weeks ago. It's about 50-60' from where it was yesterday. Something moved it overnight last night...

Closer:
it's half gone. It was not like that about 3-4 days ago. It was mangled at the time but the belly and guts were still there:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ck/carcass.jpg

Closed up of ribs, they look like they're been gnawed off pretty extensively, if you look closely you'll see (what look like) teeth marks. eew... yeah something's been gnawing on these but what? My best guess would be coyote? We get bears on rare occasion but I saw no tracks - bears are heavy.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...tmack/ribs.jpg

So, what's been chomping on this thing?

Cougar? I doubt a coyote could drag it that far.

lowsound

[Relic]

No cougars here, but 'yotes? yep, we've been told they're here. Every now and then, we'll even get a bear but it's a pretty rare occasion. I'm in the central part of the state - much less wild stuff here than up north or south but we get stuff from time to time.

Tonite when I get home from work I'm going to set up a trail cam on it. We'll see what I can get.

[BurningSkies]

We have Coy-dogs throughout our area, including here in the 'city'. About half an hour out, you can hear them at night. They've pretty fully moved back into the north east.

[SteveC]

Bigfoot....call the BFRO on Animal Planet, they'll investigate. I watch the show every Sunday night. It's awesome.

[Mark Wilson]

Looks like it died.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Looks like it died.

I knew I could count on Mrak to solve this.

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Looks like it died.

First laugh out loud post of the day. Thank you sir.

[Schlyder]

The Chupacabra.

[lowendfriend]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

Cougar? I doubt a coyote could drag it that far.

lowsound

But three could!

[Actium]

[lowendfriend]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

We have Coy-dogs throughout our area, including here in the 'city'. About half an hour out, you can hear them at night. They've pretty fully moved back into the north east.

They are even showing up in greater numbers on Outer Cape Cod. Wherever small pets and deer go, so do they.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by Relic

Warning - this is gross. view at your own risk.

Check it out, this is what greeted me this morning about 100' from my bedroom window:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...mack/field.jpg

See the little speck? That was a deer carcass that was laying on the roadside in the woods off to the left of the frame. It had been hit by a car about 2-3 weeks ago. It's about 50-60' from where it was yesterday. Something moved it overnight last night...

Closer:
it's half gone. It was not like that about 3-4 days ago. It was mangled at the time but the belly and guts were still there:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ck/carcass.jpg

Closed up of ribs, they look like they're been gnawed off pretty extensively, if you look closely you'll see (what look like) teeth marks. eew... yeah something's been gnawing on these but what? My best guess would be coyote? We get bears on rare occasion but I saw no tracks - bears are heavy.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...tmack/ribs.jpg

So, what's been chomping on this thing?

Possibly coyote - but that would be a rather long drag for coyotes. They'll haul a leg or similar piece around, but they usually don't move whole carcasses very far.

Coyotes and bears will always go for the entrails first - that is their favorite part.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by aborgman

Possibly coyote - but that would be a rather long drag for coyotes. They'll haul a leg or similar piece around, but they usually don't move whole carcasses very far.

Coyotes and bears will always go for the entrails first - that is their favorite part.

I was hoping you'd chime in. Bobcat maybe?

[Darth Handsome]

.....and then I ate the bowl!

[Lee H]

bear are heavy, but they do not "walk heavy".

an average size young black bear will weigh 160-170 lbs, while a full grown sow will be in the 335-350 range. Some of the old boars will go 500+ lbs, but this is really the rarity, not the norm. (like pigs, a female is a sow, and a male is a boar)

a 350 lb bear will have a front paw that is wider then an average person's hand, with fingers spread as wide as they can go. The same bear's rear paw will be the length os a size 10 boot, but wider. I have pics of my size 12 1/2 D boot completely inside a bear hind paw print.
because a bear's paw is so large and soft, they do not leave as deep of a print as you think they should, and they can be absolutely silent, in the woods.
and a bear could carry that carcass, with no more effort than a dog carrying a rabbit...


I am not saying that is what you have. Just that the possibility should not be ruled out

[Relic]

Wow, lots of good info, thanks!

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by Lee H

bear are heavy, but they do not "walk heavy".

an average size young black bear will weigh 160-170 lbs, while a full grown sow will be in the 335-350 range. Some of the old boars will go 500+ lbs, but this is really the rarity, not the norm. (like pigs, a female is a sow, and a male is a boar)

a 350 lb bear will have a front paw that is wider then an average person's hand, with fingers spread as wide as they can go. The same bear's rear paw will be the length os a size 10 boot, but wider. I have pics of my size 12 1/2 D boot completely inside a bear hind paw print.
because a bear's paw is so large and soft, they do not leave as deep of a print as you think they should, and they can be absolutely silent, in the woods.
and a bear could carry that carcass, with no more effort than a dog carrying a rabbit...


I am not saying that is what you have. Just that the possibility should not be ruled out

But can you indeed conclude without a reasonable doubt they defecate in the woods?

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

But can you indeed conclude without a reasonable doubt they defecate in the woods?

absolutely...and I can even prove that.

since I live in the woods, I can find some and send it to you, for analysis. ...LOL