The circle of life

 Monday, August 23rd

You may want to simply glance through this post. I wanted to write about it, to work it through. The day was cloudy, and the crows were noisy. I heard them, and thought I should go see what they were upset about. The turkey vultures were even more upset, as they flew over the house. They are large, their wingspan is about 170cm, I counted 9 soaring in circles in a cloudy sky. vultures  

And they continued...

We'd lost a fawn. The cars just whip by, and the poor thing was hit in the rump. It would have been quick. We have had a doe with one fawn, and another with two. I hoped it was one of the twins.

The crows were going after the carcass, and the turkey vultures were watching from up in the trees. Crows cannot harvest an intact animal, I have read. They don't have the beaks for it. This carcass had injuries, which they exploited.

I was so surprised. They were afraid of the highway, I think. Or the crows.

It bothered me all day. Since the vultures and the crows were so agitated, I thought I should move the carcass. Usually, the county is pretty quick to pick up roadkill, but by the afternoon in sweltering heat... I had to do something. I changed into dirty clothes, grabbed the big wheelbarrow and heavy gloves, and went to the highway. It stunk so badly. It was just gruesome. I don't know how people can do this. The smell stayed in my head all afternoon and evening. I couldn't eat lunch. I did manage dinner.

I'd placed the carcass on Oliver's Lot (below), and set up a trailcam in front of it. I decided to be curious, and see which clean-up critters turned up. If you look closely, you can see the trailcam on its tripod. You can't really see the carcass. 

The vultures took some time and moved off. They are majestic, with their graceful flights, soaring in circles in the now blue sky. I wondered how long it would take. You can recognize them by the 'finger tip' ends of their wings.

I woke up early on Tuesday, and went out to see what was on the trailcam. Now you really cannot see anything, and I am interested in seeing the clean up crew. It's the only way to process it all. I've cut out the most gruesome clips, and chosen a decent thumbnail.

 The turkey vultures were first. They were a bit jumpy. And I never caught all 8 of them at the same time, only 4. Soon they will migrate. We appreciate their work. Turkey vultures 

Next, the coyote came along. He spent a fair amount of time at it, on and off during the day. If you choose to watch, you can see how afraid he is of the highway just off to the right. The vultures didn't even look at the traffic going by! His last visit was 8 p.m. Coyote  

 

The red fox came along at 9 p.m. By the morning there was nothing left but some fur. Nature's plan worked. And mine! Red fox  

It was the doe with the single fawn who we lost. You can see the twin fawns in yesterday's post. 

They predators were pretty wary. I walked around a bit, and they did an excellent clean up. The coyotes didn't come around after dark. Just the fox. They don't like the trailcam lights. I'm glad it is all over. 

The vulture and the porcupine

We had a porcupine killed by a car. They go so fast, speed demons. Porcupines go so slowly.
I've seen several ambling along.



I brought its heavy body up onto the open lot, so the vultures would get rid of it for us. There was just one vulture, although I've seen 8 at one time above the house. It only took about three days. The smell was horrid. I gave my grandkids a few porcupine quills, to look at them. This is sad, but it is the cycle of life. They move so slowly. Their claws are quite beautiful. Its head was a mess, so I won't show that. I knew the vultures would make quick work of it. Our vultures are frequent flyers!

Porcupine-eaten bark

From National Geographic:
The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood.

Fast Facts: Porcupine

Scientific name: Erethizon dorsatum 
Average weight: 5.5 kg (male) 4.5 kg (female)
Average height: 60 to 100 cm
Average lifespan: 10 years or more

When baby porcupines are born their quills are soft, but within an hour they harden.

Here's a video from early spring!

Recent trailcam video:
porcupine from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.