Checking game cams at mid-day today. Not unusual to find a pile of feathers around a feeder, sometimes some squirrel hair.
Found this big pile (about 16" x 16") of rabbit fur just to the side of a feeder. It is evident whatever had the rabbit, denuded it right there. Nearly all the fur a rabbit would have...is in that pile. No sign of the actual carcass/skeleton anywhere close around.
I have pretty good idea of what it was....but want to hear your guesses/answers first.
Chad's prolly right cause you see lots of hair in coyote skat. I question that is nearly all the fur a rabbit had especially this time of year, unless it was a small one, that ain't much.
But a hawk (bird of prey) would not be out of the question either.
The reason I think 'Owl' in this instance is the fact that I rarely have daytime pics of rabbits under the feeder eating corn, but quite a few of them after dark.
Also, Owls tend to pick apart and begin to eat their prey right where they are (provided they feel safe enough). Hawks are more inclined to carry their prey away and to an elevated spot if possible.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: What picked all the fur off this rabbit....?
[Re: garyrapp55]
#764957611/01/1911:01 PM
Chad's prolly right cause you see lots of hair in coyote skat. I question that is nearly all the fur a rabbit had especially this time of year, unless it was a small one, that ain't much.
It's much more than it looks like in the pic. I will be hunting in that area tomorrow and will try to remember to put something of scale next to it. There is pretty much every type of fur present (belly, back, sides) and a lot of it. Some would have been consumed as well.
probably an owl, winter time. some big ones come through
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting.......holy kaka.....What a Ride!
Re: What picked all the fur off this rabbit....?
[Re: fgdn]
#764975011/02/1902:30 AM
Agree with the Owl or hawk theory. Watched a hawk catch a big woodpecker under the bird feeder and he plucked it bare and ate most of it right outside the window. Lots of squawking went on for a while%