murdered coons

[deerefan]

This is weird....my wife has been finding dead raccoons by our horse pasture about once every couple weeks. Just this morning, we had a "double murder" as she likes to call it. At first we thought it was our dogs doing it, but they reamin quiet all evening and have no scratches or signs of a struggle with a coon. We have no neighbors with in 3 miles so they aren't being shot and dying on my place. My only explanation is they are being killed by a dominant male coon living in the area, but that is just a guess. I am thinking of bringing one to the local vet to have a necropsy run. Anyone have any suggestions? We have been finding the bodies in roughly the same area everytime.

 

[oliver28472]

Coyotes maybe?

 

[Tig]

Very odd. Most animal fights for domination end in submission, not death. Are they torn up at all? Is there anything that might poison them nearby? Like a bucket of automotive antifreeze?

 

[kossetx]

Well, If it was me, I'd chuck 'em and be happy. Not a lot of love lost between me and raccoons.

 

[deerefan]

no, no bucket of antifreeze but their fur is matted. I will move them this evening and inspect them closely to see what I can find and will post results.

 

[hudlow]

Are they close to a road?

Is someone killing them somewhere else and dumping them next to your pasture?

hud

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm thinking poison or desease. Be careful handling them.

 

[oliver28472]

Listen to Roy, around here in NC many coons have rabies. Pick them up with a shovel.

 

[riptides]

Horses in the Horse pasture? One good kick and that's that.

-Mike Z.

 

[pappy19]

Bobcat.