[NatureNS] scat or pellet

From: "Wayne P. Neily" <neilyornis@hotmail.com>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 02:21:16 -0400
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Hello Randy et al.,
=20
  While driving at night I have occasionally flushed an owl from a roadkill=
, and when I have been able to see it well enough to identify, it has alway=
s been a Great Horned Owl.  I seem to recall hearing that this was about th=
e only species that would feed on dead skunks (probably from Tufts or Cyril=
 Coldwell).  Scavenging must be either uncommon for it or little documented=
, however, as I recall being surprised years ago by reading a report of one=
 feeding on a roadkill as a note in the Canadian Field-Naturalist by a well=
-known ornithologist (Godfrey if I remember correctly).  My surprise was th=
at he considered it noteworthy enough to publish.
Wayne Neily Tremont, Kings Co., Nova Scotia "In nature's infinite book of s=
ecrecy A little I can read." - William Shakespeare, 1607.=20
=20



Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 17:42:37 -0400From: randy.lauff@gmail.comTo: naturens=
@chebucto.ns.caSubject: Re: [NatureNS] scat or pellet

I don't think I've ever heard of an owl scavenging, I can ask around of my =
owly colleagues. Certainly owls can be trained to scavenge (in captive sett=
ings, they're almost always fed on dead stuff), but it's not, as far as I k=
now, in their typical repertoire.
=20
I don't know a whole lot about cats (anatomically, I do, but not much else)=
, but what I do know is that their teeth are not well adapted for crushing =
a bone...I've heard that because of this, they tend to eat around the bones=
, but generally do not eat the bones themselves; this is in direct contrast=
 with dogs which do have molars adapted for crushing. Cat teeth are only ad=
apted for nipping, piercing, holding and slicing. Could you cut a bone with=
 a pair of scissors? Sure, but not effectively.
=20
Randy=20
On 04/02/2008, David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com> wrote:=20
Hi All,   If an owl will take roadkill then the fractured bones would not b=
ediagnostic. Will they ?DWAndy Moir/Chris Callaghan wrote:> Randy Lauff was=
 kind enough to put my photo on his website.  The link> is below.  So far, =
no definite conclusion. Could be an owl, possibly a> bobcat, or coyote.  An=
y other thoughts would be appreciated.>> Andy>>>> Hi Andy,>>>> http://peopl=
e.stfx.ca/rlauff/photos/scat_or_pellet.jpg>>>> There's the link. I'm certai=
nly tempted to say it's a pellet from a GH> Owl...no other NS owls take adu=
lt rabbits (routinely anyway), and that> prominent bone fragment does not s=
uggest any other white mammal.>>>> There does not appear to be any faeces i=
n it...just bone and fur (and> fresh-looking fur at that).>>>> The only thi=
n that bothers me somewhat is the fractured bone...owls> aren't good at doi=
ng that. It doesn't rule out an owl pellet by any> means, but it's somethin=
g to think about.>>>> Randy>> Antigonish County, NS.>-- Randy______________=
___________________RF LauffWay in the boonies ofAntigonish County, NS.=20
_________________________________________________________________


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Hello Randy et al.,<BR>
&nbsp;<BR>
&nbsp; While driving at night I have occasionally flushed an owl from a roa=
dkill, and when I have been able to see it well enough to identify, it has =
always been a Great Horned Owl.&nbsp; I seem to recall hearing that this wa=
s about the only species that would feed on dead skunks (probably from Tuft=
s or Cyril Coldwell).&nbsp; Scavenging must be either uncommon for it or li=
ttle documented, however, as I recall being surprised years ago by&nbsp;rea=
ding a report of one feeding on a roadkill as a note in the <EM>Canadian Fi=
eld-Naturalist </EM>by a well-known ornithologist (Godfrey if I remember co=
rrectly).&nbsp; My surprise was that he considered it noteworthy enough to =
publish.<BR><BR>
<DIV>Wayne Neily <BR>Tremont, Kings Co., Nova Scotia <BR><BR>"In nature's i=
nfinite book of secrecy <BR>A little I can read." - William Shakespeare, 16=
07. <BR></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>
<HR>
</DIV>
<DIV>Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 17:42:37 -0400<BR>From: randy.lauff@gmail.com<BR=
>To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>Subject: Re: [NatureNS] scat or pellet<BR><=
BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>I don't think I've ever heard of an owl scavenging, I can ask around o=
f my owly colleagues. Certainly owls can be trained to scavenge (in captive=
 settings, they're almost always fed on dead stuff), but it's not, as far a=
s I know, in their typical repertoire.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I don't know a whole lot about cats (anatomically, I do, but not much =
else), but what I do know is that their teeth are not well adapted for crus=
hing a bone...I've heard that because of this, they tend to eat around the =
bones, but generally do not eat the bones themselves; this is in direct con=
trast with dogs which do have molars adapted for crushing. Cat teeth are on=
ly adapted for nipping, piercing, holding and slicing. Could you cut a bone=
 with a pair of scissors? Sure, but not effectively.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Randy<BR><BR>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3DEC_gmail_quote>On 04/02/2008, <B class=3DEC_gmail_sender=
name>David &amp; Alison Webster</B> &lt;<A href=3D"mailto:dwebster@glinx.co=
m">dwebster@glinx.com</A>&gt; wrote:</SPAN>=20
<BLOCKQUOTE class=3DEC_gmail_quote style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; BORDER-LEFT:=
 #ccc 1px solid">Hi All,<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp; If an owl will take roadkill then =
the fractured bones would not be<BR>diagnostic. Will they ?<BR>DW<BR><BR>An=
dy Moir/Chris Callaghan wrote:<BR><BR>&gt; Randy Lauff was kind enough to p=
ut my photo on his website.&nbsp;&nbsp;The link<BR>&gt; is below.&nbsp;&nbs=
p;So far, no definite conclusion. Could be an owl, possibly a<BR>&gt; bobca=
t, or coyote.&nbsp;&nbsp;Any other thoughts would be appreciated.<BR>&gt;<B=
R>&gt; Andy<BR>&gt;<BR>&gt;<BR>&gt;<BR>&gt; Hi Andy,<BR>&gt;<BR>&gt;<BR>&gt=
;<BR>&gt; <A href=3D"http://people.stfx.ca/rlauff/photos/scat_or_pellet.jpg=
" target=3D_blank>http://people.stfx.ca/rlauff/photos/scat_or_pellet.jpg</A=
><BR>&gt;<BR>&gt;<BR>&