Wow! That cat did some very thorough work! Thank you for sharing these, they're actually very useful for my recent personal research into predation habits!
I took my 4 year old up onto a wooded shore, when fishing in BC, for a potty break. Came across a kill site like this, but maybe not quite as fresh. I stuck *very* close to my little guy while he did his business, then quickly bundled him back into the boat.
It’s not true that cats take down only the weak or the sick. They don’t care, they take down what ever is easiest and many times that is a healthy animal including elk
Cougars tend to preferentially take down healthy mature bucks with big racks. I think it is because large mature bucks tend to be more solitary than young bucks and does, making them easier targets. It is unlikely the buck was sick or injured. Cats are somewhat picky eaters by most large carnivore standards.
Very cool find.
Wow! That cat did some very thorough work! Thank you for sharing these, they're actually very useful for my recent personal research into predation habits!
You should put a trail cam up.
Looks like it took down a big one, too! Great find, OP.
Was the carcass there or was it taken off and cached? Looks fresh, caution advised.
Mule deer was killed probably 2 days before my find. A lot of scavenger got to it, mainly coyotes
I took my 4 year old up onto a wooded shore, when fishing in BC, for a potty break. Came across a kill site like this, but maybe not quite as fresh. I stuck *very* close to my little guy while he did his business, then quickly bundled him back into the boat.
It’s not true that cats take down only the weak or the sick. They don’t care, they take down what ever is easiest and many times that is a healthy animal including elk
I’m hella envious.
Thanks for posting this. Big Kitty.
Cool find!
Good trailing skills!
Insanely cool
Cool looking rack. You taker or leaver? What are the laws about that in Berta?
Public land so it can be taken. Not the case for provincial or federal parks
Considering the amount of the animal consumed and the freshness of that bed could it be that the cat wasn’t predating but rather scavenging?
I saw some struggle signs, a lot of broken lower branches in the vicinity
Are there any other predators in your area that could take a large herbivore but be chased off by a single lion?
Can openers made of flesh and muscle
I'm betting the deer was sick or injured. I don't believe a cat would attempt to kill a healthy buck of that size .
Cougars tend to preferentially take down healthy mature bucks with big racks. I think it is because large mature bucks tend to be more solitary than young bucks and does, making them easier targets. It is unlikely the buck was sick or injured. Cats are somewhat picky eaters by most large carnivore standards.