What Attacked this Calf? (Graphic Picture)

HunterDave · #1 06-25-2018, 12:04 PM

I just got a call from a Rancher wrt helping with coyotes attacking and killing his calves. It just started happening and he's lost 2 so far. Initially he told me that the damage was around the anus so I was thinking that it was ravens. After seeing the picture, I highly doubt that ravens would do that.

Does this look like the work of a coyote? Maybe couldn't finish the job before the Mother cow ran him off. There are also wolves and bears in that area and the bottom of the wound looks a little like bear claw marks to me.

I'm going to head up there and have a look.

The Spruce · #2 06-25-2018, 12:23 PM

Dave,

I can't see the picture, but if the calf was consumed-wolves, calf only partially consumed-coyotes. Bears, and cats don't attack the hinds, that is the work of k-9's. It is possible that it is a single wolf as well. Drag the carcass to a tree, and rig a camera on it if you can't find sign. Were the ears and nose eaten?

Spruce

dgl1948 · #3 06-25-2018, 06:42 PM

Magpies

Marten1576 · #4 06-25-2018, 06:52 PM

That looks to me to be a glancing high power rifle shot. My guess

tikka250 · #5 06-25-2018, 07:47 PM

had a calf taken down this year that i caught the coyote still in the act and the wound looked identical to that one. poor little bugger was still alive when i got there and to top it off i never got the yote

one thing to note though is the calf was a lot smaller than the one pictured so i would not rule out wolf.

Sask Bearman · #6 06-25-2018, 08:02 PM

Bear? That's my guess. Not good regardless, poor little rascal.

HunterDave · #7 06-25-2018, 08:09 PM

There were two calves with wounds in the same place and both are still alive. The one pictured is probably about 80 lbs and the other is smaller, probably about 60 lbs. The wound on the smaller one is not as deep or wide. It almost looks like it was sliced with a knife (no jagged edges). The Rancher tells me that it only happens on the one quarter and not in any of his other pastures. The calves are in a corral with their Moms and the one cow absolutely freaked right out when we approached. Something really has her spooked. The other cow was pretty docile.