Dead Beaver

[surfinbird]

I found a dead beaver near the cottage on Miners Bay . Something attacked and ate it . The only things left were the hide , some ribs and a foot . There were no signs of a struggle , blood or anything . I suspect that the beaver was killed somewhere close by . Anyone have a clue as to what killed the poor little guy . I have a few ideas but  no wolves have been spotted here or coyotes either . There is a fox and a few bears . I have not seen any signs of a fisher .
Any guesses ?
Thank you
Rob

[Faltorvo]

Could also be death by natural causes or some kind of accident that it was able to somewhat wander away from. Then the scavengers took over.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a possible winter kill and then predation by scavengers.

Wildlife that could have possibly been involved range from a dog to raccoons to skunks.

There is also the potential that it got attacked in the water by a musky/pike and made it onto land where it was scavenged on.

[Tyler]

A beaver Attacked in the water by a Pike or Musky?? LOL is there Springfield Nuclear plant there?    Can't see a mature beaver attacked by any musky or pike. Muskrats sometimes yes, Baby beavers sometimes yes, Adults highly unlikely.

As Atilla said about winter kill. Sounds like it may be a  possibility that it drowned under the ice and then scavenged.

Or it could be a victim of and road mishap. late winter early spring beaver and muskrat bodies can be readily seen along sides of roads. And hwy 35 takes alot creatures lives each year

As for Predators... Wolves are a major predator on beavers. Actually they probably are the main predator. They like to sit near dams and ambush them when they come ashore. And wolves are through out  canadian Shield cottage country areas but are very discrete when moving around human development areas. i.e cottages.

With just a hide, some bones and no blood it sounds like that beaver has been dead for a while.  and stripped clean by everthing and anything that like meat and or needs calcium. including squirrels, mice, blue jays, crows ,ravens...etc

[egret]

Hope not a Fisher
they are so vicious

poor beaver


Egret

[surfinbird]

Thank you for the response . It wasn't road  kill as the hwy is not close by so I guess either it just died or maybe a wolf got it  I did take a picture but thought it would be a little disturbing to view. I have been making treks to the beaver dam for a year now and this is first time I've seen any evidence of a beaver predator . The dam they built is 30' long and 15' high at one end and completely level , they are marvelous engineers .
Thanks for the helpful input .
Rob

[Anonymous]

Tyler - depends on the size of the musky.  It's not inconceivable for a large musky to take a swipe at a beaver, especially if the conditions are right.  All it would take is an injury of a small nature in the right location to do damage to a beaver.  The musky, if it was that, would have gotten an injury as well, but we only have a beaver so it's fun throwing suggestions out.  

I also think it could have been scavenged by a snapping turtle, which would have no problem biting through bone.

Attila

[Axeman]

Definately not wolf because they would eat it hide and all...as for the coyotes, I know there are many around my home but I have never seen one...I hear them...and know of a case where 3 men were charged after being found with 30 captive coyotes (seems they use them to train their dogs to hunt coyotes...and the dogs are equipped with GPS units...talk about sporting...)...myself, I prefer the opportunistic feeder theory....it died on site from other causes and I guess Ward was too hard on the remains...

I found 5 or 6 rabbit remains after the thaw, in my yard within an area of about 6 square meters...scavenged v. eaten whole...anyone know what would hunt and bring its kill back to same area to be consumed? It was a somewhat open area in between an apple orchard and workshop...I was thinking feral cats...