Week old blackbird carcass... disappears

neilp2000 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 07:34 AM

Hi all,

I found a blackbird carcass in my garden on monday, no sign of trauma. I went out to tidy it up today and it had gone. I'm surprised that anything would take it... I'm sure cats only like fresh kill... would a fox take something that had been dead for a week? My back garden is surrounded by fences/buildings, so only way in is over a gate or roof...

Neil

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 07:52 AM

Yes a fox will eat things that have been long dead.

Farplace · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 08:31 AM

most probably a fox, but cats do sometimes take very-dead things to play with, rather than to eat. You might find the fox is more interested in playing with the body - or burying it - as well.
Other possible contenders.... any corvid, although they would more probably eat it on-site, and leave a lot of feathers.... or a rat, who WOULD remove the body to somewhere secret.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 04:15 PM

We had a duck once for boxing day and left it out it went off so we buried it about ft down in the garden a few days later there was a big hole and the duck was gone..
I think the fox had it.
I never saw the fox but my son who's bedroom was at the back said he saw one quite often.

faz · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 04:24 PM

hi neil welcome to WAB
it sounds like a fox as they will eat carrion and they can get over fences

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 04:34 PM

Maybe a Fox, but possibly a Crow, Magpie or a larger gull could have taken it if they are around.

faz · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Maybe a Fox, but possibly a Crow, Magpie or a larger gull could have taken it if they are around.

very true and any of the mustalids if any gaps in fence

neilp2000 · #8 (**permalink**) 16-03-2011, 08:48 PM

Thanks for all the replies... my hunch was a cat or fox... probably the latter.

I would be surprised to see any badgers or other mustelids: we live in a 1970s housing estate comprising almost entirley of tarmac and houses for 2 or 3 miles. Also the only possible entry point for anything other than a cat is a slight gap about 4' off the ground between fence and gate... which I can imagine a fox getting up to, but not much else.