Tornado Alley (PROG)

[F6]

Scientists Record Deer Gnawing Human Remains For First Time

“Sure wish I had a human bone-cigar in my maw.”
Today in “signs of the impending apocalypse.”
05/06/2017
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scientists-record-deer-gnawing-on-human-remains-for-the-first-time_us_590cf327e4b0d5d9049ca2fc?khp [with embedded video]

study:

White-tailed Deer as a Taphonomic Agent: Photographic Evidence of White-tailed Deer Gnawing on Human Bone
2 May 2017
Abstract
Ungulate gnawing on bone has been reported in the taphonomic and zooarchaeological literature, but there are no known reports of ungulates altering human remains. Herein, we report on the first known photographic evidence of deer gnawing human remains. As described in nonhuman scavenging literature, forking of the bone characterizes the taphonomic effect of deer gnawing in this case, which is distinct from the effect caused by other scavengers. This type of osteophagia during the winter season is consistent with previously documented behavior of deer gnawing on nonhuman bone, possibly to obtain minerals absent in their diet. In this study, we briefly discuss the distinguishing features of ungulate gnawing, the reasons for this behavior, and possible confusion with other common types of scavenging and modification. This report contributes to taphonomic literature covering the range of animal interactions with human skeletal remains.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.13514/full