Headless adder found

[ellen h]

While walking in the local country park this morning I came across a headless adder on one of the grass tracks.It was a female,about 20 inches long,indeed it looked a fine specimen.Where the head had been removed the spine could clearly be seen,it looked liked something could have been eating it from the head down as there was skin too......Could it have been a bird of prey that had caught and killed it but may have been disturbed before it could finish its meal?Thats the only thing I can think of,sorry had no camera with me today to take a photo-it was pouring with rain...
Ellen

[ViperaBerus]

Possibly raptor or corvid. Mammals tend to leave the head well alone, although mink have been known to chew on the heads.

[JaySteel]

A few years ago I found a headless grass snake on two occasions. I was told by the owner of a nearby allotment that some of the other gardeners were killing them with spades because they believed them to be adders.

[jamesthornton]

Originally Posted by ViperaBerus

Possibly raptor or corvid. Mammals tend to leave the head well alone, although mink have been known to chew on the heads.

I thought I read before that mammals (atleast Cats?) will eat the head and sometimes leave the body behind as it has a lot of protein in the brain?

Maybe i'm thinking of something else..

[JaySteel]

One of my cats tends to do this with mice but she's never caught a snake thankfully.

[ellen h]

Originally Posted by ViperaBerus

Possibly raptor or corvid. Mammals tend to leave the head well alone, although mink have been known to chew on the heads.

I am sure it was indeed a raptor as I have heard some do hunt snakes....it had no other injuries on the body either......certainly couldnt see a mammal having a go at an adder-unless it was a mongoose lol!!

[JaySteel]

There are some mammals that will tackle an adder. Taken from the Surrey ARG website on their adder page:

"Mammal predators include badgers, foxes and even hedgehogs. In certain parts of the country, pole cats and their relations the stoat and pine marten may predate on adders."

Best regards,
Jason

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by ViperaBerus

Possibly raptor or corvid. Mammals tend to leave the head well alone, although mink have been known to chew on the heads.

Most likely a mammal. They tend to target heads, decaitation is very common in felids, canids and mustelids. Could potentially be a bird but no reson to rule out mammal from the description. A photo would help if you have one.

[ellen h]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Most likely a mammal. They tend to target heads, decaitation is very common in felids, canids and mustelids. Could potentially be a bird but no reson to rule out mammal from the description. A photo would help if you have one.

Sorry I didnt take my camera out with me this morning as it was pouring down,didnt have my camera phone on me either....didnt think for one minute I would find anything of interest on such a dull,wet day!!
Thanks for all the replies everyone
ellen

[Dogghound]

typo should of said decapitation.