predator problem

[BettyLandercasper]

That particular cow, with that amount of manure behind her, looks to me like she died and was chewed on post mortem, or perhaps as she was dying. She also seems thin for a cow who is just about to calve, and the blood looks thin, not the deep dark red I would expect, perhaps it had been raining.
Are there any cherry trees down by the stream? Any other possible toxic plants? I might ask my extension agent about that.
If it is a predator I'd be thinking dogs. A coyote would have eaten a lot more in my experience.

[JSCATTLE]

Are you sure the cow was not down for a while and then torn up? Looks like a very big pile of manure behind her.
And the areas shown are some of the first that a buzzard with tear because it is tender.

That was my thought too . That cow looks like she was down for a few days . Those Mexican buzzards will Chew on anything that doesn't run . I've seen several dead cows and can't remember any dedicating that much after death .

[Kathie in Thorp]

We have no Mexican Buzzards in the Pac. N.W. But we do have hawks, eagles, crows, and the pesky Magpies, that will work as scavenger birds work.

[3waycross]

NO offense but the damage you are showing in the pictures could have been caused by birds post mortem. I think I would look for other causes of death!

[Gators Rule]

If it was a predator, it was dogs. Buzzards and/or coyotes would have eaten more of the cow, if not all of it (buzzards). Dogs typical knaw for a little while and then get bored.

My number one guess would be something poisonous, such as an insecticide or a poisonous plant, and then having coons or another critter doing the knawing, but it could be dogs taking the cow down. Money on the poison though.

[dieselbeef]

the hide isnt even tore up....the eyes and nose in good cond? if not its after death likely.

if the cows was in flight would it not have lost all that manure before death? its not the loose mess assoc with post mortem from my exp.

that is the area the birds will eat first....im no expert but it looks like it was dead first and then picked apart.

[backhoeboogie]

Where on the rear are the wounds located. I have seen wounds for a cougar on both horses and cattle on the rear. A coyote is only about knee high so wounds would be very low and I can't imagine a coyote atacking a full grown cow. If there are bite wounds low on the legs my guess would be the neighbors dogs.

The WDFW seriously doesn't want to admit that cougars are causing any damage to anything.

Bingo! I agree, domesticated dogs are a much more likely culprit.

That's my choice too.

Yep. Coyotes are all over me. Not once, NEVER, has one attacked a calve. Never seen a wound. You can put "Coyote Serenade" in the truck CD player and packs will answer from all sides. I am covered up in them.

[backhoeboogie]

BTW, if you import coyotes, your dog problem will disappear.

[Dave]

You wouldn't happen to be on lower Salzer Creek, before you get to the Centralia-Alpha Rd, would you?

How close were you to this cow the day before when you said it was alive and healthy? On a 75 acre pasture a cow standing well out into the field might look a whole lot healthier than it would up close. All that manure in the picture makes it look like she was laying there a while. I know that with the weather this spring I have been fighting pneumonia in my calves and I darn near lots a 2 year old heifer to it.

The grass in the picture looks like old last year's Reed Canarygrass. There is a lot of that in those swampy valleys around Centralia. By this time of the year that stuff is as digestable as wood chips. Hopefully these cows have something else to eat.

[Calman]

Their not enough blood around for the cow to be taken down by a preditor.And as was said what with all the manure looks like she was down before being chewed on.Could have been some kind of buzzard to my thinking.

Cal

[cowpunk'd]

At first I figured she must have died of something else and then gotten picked at by birds because you should have some predator prints in that mud! But then I thought, what if she got into the ditch and stayed there awhile, to get away from dogs or wolves? Then after they left her, she was to chilled and stressed to survive. In that case there should be prints in the mud around the ditch where she crossed. If you can't find prints, she died of something else.

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

The manure pile (huge!) indicates down a long time. The consistancy of the manure indicates no stress at the time of defication. Cow appears to be thin.
Were there any other cows killed/injured? This damage is easily explained by a dead cow getting pecked by birds - even simple crows will do this much damage. There isn't enough tissue damage showing that would satisfy the appetite of a squirrel.
If there are other cows dead - I'd be looking for a cause other than preditors.

[gimpyrancher]

Don't predators kill for food, not for sport? Why would a hungry predator leave a perfectly tasty meal? Why would any pack of predators leave a perfectly tasty meal? This is suspect as to cause.

[Kathie in Thorp]

We haven't heard back from the OP. But I'm interested/curious on what was figured out.

[newcattleman]

I, too, would think that a predator would have eaten part of the animal. If you find that it is a predator or dogs then shoot it/them, bury, and don't talk about it.