Help with a predator identity please

[brownpyke<')))={]

On a walk in some open woodland this morning I noticed several rabbits and a pretty large chicken carcass wedged deep in the branches of trees at about eye level. I have never seen anything like this before, so if someone could help me to identify the predator I would be really interested to know what is doing this. I don't think it can be foxes or badgers due to the height the animals are placed at. I noticed that they were all around the same height and there was quite a big distance between each carcass in different stages of decay. It could be a person doing this of course for some peculiar reason, but I don't think so as some of the animals were wedged very deep amongst the branches of hawthorn trees, and it would be very painful and difficult to get them there. There are a large number of red kites in the area, but I'm not sure they would put their prey so close to the ground. The only time I have seen anything like this was on wildlife programs when big cats take their prey up into trees and wedge them there to protect them from other predators. I don't think we have many panthers wandering around Yorkshire though!

[Alex90]

Could well be a fox, or even a domestic/feral cat both are able to climb, foxes are often describes as more cat like than dog like due to this ability.

Not an expert on moggy's or foxes but not heard of them taking prey into a tree although its highly possible.

[rona]

Around the place that I walk my dog, there are quite often carcasses hanging in trees.
It is me
My dog catches myxy rabbits and brings me carcasses that the fox hasn't managed to finish. Lovely presents
They get hung in trees to prevent him retrieving them to me the following day

[Beekeeper]

No witchcraft in your area by any chance, i have heard of strange things like that which have been something to do with witchcraft rituals.

ian

[Jason Green]

Hi BP, and welcome to WAB

I don't suppose there are any reports of BoP persecution in the locality, are there? You say you have a lot of RKs. Just another idea to kick around!

Take care,

Jason

[brownpyke<')))={]

Thanks for the suggestions, I think the idea that it could be dog owner putting them there is the most plausible, if not very exciting solution
The Witchcraft idea is possible, particularly as it was Halloween when I found them, but they had been there for quite a long time.
I really hope it's not something as sinister as Bird of prey persecution, as there are no dead birds around I think and hope it's pretty unlikely.
I don't think a feral cat or a fox, no matter how large would be able to drag a full grown chicken over five foot up a tree, a Badger could I suppose, I wasn't aware that they could climb.

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by Alex90

Could well be a fox, or even a domestic/feral cat both are able to climb, foxes are often describes as more cat like than dog like due to this ability.

While it's true that foxes are good climbers, I think they tend to bury their excess catch rather than wedging them in trees.

As for the witchcraft stuff, I live in Glastonbury where lots of people call themselves witches/pagans/whatever (and some are good friends) and I've never heard of anything like that. I'll ask, though...

[richnfamous]

Had a word with my mate Pete (who knows about the 'witchcraft' stuff) and he reckons it's probably people. He also said that there are some pretty ****ed-up types around 'witchcraft'.

[Vincent86]

There's a big possibility that it's done by the foxes around your area.