What Killed the Rabbit?? A Backyard Mystery
Jan 18, 2019 09:45:58 #
We noticed our little Schitzu was showing undue interest in our backyard last evening. I found the remains of a cotton tail rabbit and am wondering what animal would kill in this fashion (we have owls, hawks, cats, and on extremely rare occasions a coyote, bobcat in the general neighborhood). I took photos but probably best to just describe what I found.
Image a large African Sumac in our backyard, large areas of grass. At the 5 oclock position on the ground as you look at the tree was an area of rabbit fur in patches. then around the tree at about the noon position was the neatly removed entrals...lungs, liver, intestines. About 4 feet away, at the 2 oclock position was the head of the rabbit...no ears.
Anyone have any ideas of which predator is likely to kill in this fashion? Despite searching the entire back yard (enclosed with 6 foot fence) I could not find the rest of the carcass.
Image a large African Sumac in our backyard, large areas of grass. At the 5 oclock position on the ground as you look at the tree was an area of rabbit fur in patches. then around the tree at about the noon position was the neatly removed entrals...lungs, liver, intestines. About 4 feet away, at the 2 oclock position was the head of the rabbit...no ears.
Anyone have any ideas of which predator is likely to kill in this fashion? Despite searching the entire back yard (enclosed with 6 foot fence) I could not find the rest of the carcass.
Jan 18, 2019 10:04:04 #
Wow! sounds like something out of a Stephen King novel...but where I live we have simular wildlife. I would suspect a Coopers Hawk. They tend to spred out their kill and carry off the most desired parts...after a little on site snack. They are amazing to watch in the air and on the ground. One other reason I lean toward the Hawk is they tend to use shrubs and tall grass as camouflage for their time on the ground. Just a speculation on my part it would be very interesting to find out the real culprit in this "hare-or" story. David
Jan 18, 2019 10:18:10 #
David C. wrote:
Wow! sounds like something out of a Stephen King n... (show quote)
We do have Coopers Hawks here. Detaching the head and dissecting out the entrals in one en block dissection is amazing, then flying off with a pretty good sized carcass is impressive.
Jan 18, 2019 10:19:35 #
davyboy
Loc: Anoka Mn.
Never heard of any bird or animal remove the insides that clean and eat the ears off the head
Jan 18, 2019 10:40:11 #
When I was in my teens we had a huge black double pawed cat named Blacky :). He was neutered, but still loved to hunt. I would watch him eat a rabbit on the front lawn usually in the early morning. The remains were exactly as you described. The guts looked surgically removed and only the feet were left.
Jan 18, 2019 10:43:29 #
Jan 18, 2019 11:42:00 #
Dave327 wrote:
When I was in my teens we had a huge black double pawed cat named Blacky :). He was neutered, but still loved to hunt. I would watch him eat a rabbit on the front lawn usually in the early morning. The remains were exactly as you described. The guts looked surgically removed and only the feet were left.
Thanks...what puzzles me is where is the rest of the rabbit? Bones, skin, remaining fur, ears, legs are all gone and for the most part I would think not tasty. The rest of the carcass would be about the size of a football...hard to imagine all of that in a cat (or bird) so I suspect part of the animal has been moved elsewhere for selective picking.
Jan 18, 2019 11:42:50 #
For those interested in seeing the photos, PM me and I'll send them to you by request.
Jan 18, 2019 12:18:19 #
tinplater wrote:
We noticed our little Schitzu was showing undue in... (show quote)
Maybe it was little Schitzu.
Jan 18, 2019 12:36:34 #
It could have ben anything. Have you checked your dog for a bloody mouth?
Jan 18, 2019 13:23:56 #
It's not the dog. Her chances of catching a bunny are less than zero...she doesn't run, she's a slow hopper for full speed. My concern is for the dog and the creature that got the rabbit!
Jan 18, 2019 13:25:38 #
jaymatt wrote:
It could have ben anything. Have you checked your dog for a bloody mouth?
I've seen lots of dog kill, none had the meticulously clean appearance of this, nor a missing carcass.
Jan 18, 2019 16:09:06 #
down here ,in the suburb we live in we often find possums, so treated. It is the foxes.....right in melbourne. OZ.
Jan 19, 2019 08:03:54 #
Feral cat. They like rabbit and squirrel. And they can climb fences.
Jan 19, 2019 08:12:41 #
tinplater wrote:
We noticed our little Schitzu was showing undue in... (show quote)
Sounds as though a Cat may have been the preliminary executioner. We have many strays and ferals around our area that I know to hunt the rabbits we have in abundance. As to the carcass, my guess is one of the local scavengers may have followed up, possums and raccoons are both omnivores and known to have a go at a fresh kill. Have you considered the possibility of one of the larger raptors being in the neighborhood, such as an eagle, falcon or larger hawk. I don't believe a Coopers hawk would take down a large rabbit though I've seen them much as you described to a mourning dove.
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