Carcass question

[Rich Jordan]

We live in a 'burb not too close to any forest preserves, but near a park, with various small unimproved areas, or overgrown retention ponds. We've got tons of rabbits and squirrels, some skunks, 2-3 coyotes, very occasional deer, some raptors, feral cats, and possibly (haven't seen any) feral dogs.

Yesterday morning walking the dog he found a gutpile; looked like intestines and stomach and other offal from a rabbit size critter; it was by the overgrown retention pond so I left it (much to the dog's dismay). Nothing else in the immediate area.

Yesterday afternoon while walking we found a complete, eyes included, rabbit head. This one I picked up (had doggie bags) and discarded. It didn't smell noticeably and had only a few flies around it. I suspect it was moved there since the morning because we would have walked by it before finding the gutpile ~100 feet away. I did not take note if the parting line was a clean cut... should have.

So my question. What critter would take a rabbit and leave the guts and the relatively unscathed head behind? I'd expect coyotes to not leave much behind. Dog would make a bigger mess and the gutpile was selective; nothing but soft gut parts, no skin, no bones, pretty much like someone was cleaning the rabbit. The head could have been moved (neighborhood kids, other people's dogs, etc) but it wasn't in the immediate area of the gutpile in the morning.

I'm hoping we don't have a person (especially a kid) doing this (I don't overly care, legalities aside, if they trap or hunt the rabbits but leaving the remains around needs dealing with), and I have to admit if I find another in the near future I'm going to start worrying about the neighborhood...

Thanks for any info/thoughts.

[skb12172]

Kid hunting and trapping? Yeah, no big deal. Apprentice serial killer? Problem. You need more data.

[308Mike]

Most natural predators (especially cats) will move their kill AWAY from their drinking water to help ensure their water won't become contaminated by their kill (unless they eat the ENTIRE thing like a 'gator or croc), unless it's a rookie learning how to survive. AFAIK, there are very few internal organs which won't be eaten, depending on how hungry the critter is that killed it. The heart and liver are consumed almost immediately once the internals organs are exposed. Did you look at the gutpile to note what might be missing?

[JKosprey]

Most predators are going to eat the guts...I would suspect a human. As for the head and guts being separate, it's possible that the head was moved by a scavenger, but somewhat unlikely. Hopefully it's just a kid hunting or trapping, but keep your eyes open.

[Aglifter]

Predators go for the guts first.

[308Mike]

Predators go for the guts first.

'cause they require less energy to consume.

[Aglifter]

Well, that, and they're the highest in nutrition, and depending on the type of predator, they need fresh "animal digest" for certain nutrients, etc.

[Rich Jordan]

Did you look at the gutpile to note what might be missing?

To be honest I probably couldn't tell; I've never hunted and only ever cleaned fish and (long agto) frogs. I pulled out the intestine the dog had nearly grabbed and it was still attached to what looked like a stomach; no darker organs (liver/heart should be, correct?) Don't know what rabbit lungs look like but there weren't two of anything, nor anything not attached to the intestines.

[Aglifter]

Liver should, just about - be the first thing eaten - not that familiar w. raptor kills - could be different.

A coyote/wolf etc would just about eat a rabbit whole.

Oh, and the skins are usually the last thing to disappear, if the predator isn't eating it whole - hair doesn't digest well.

Keep an eye out, snap some pics, possibly - fur prices are pretty high, you might have someone trapping back there.