Graphic photo - Odd predator

[Roryd]

Hi everyone,

I sadly lost a hen yesterday. We’ve had some predator issues on and off but this was different. There was one large pile of feathers, and oddly, the entrails were in this pile. Not too far away in the woods I found the carcass. It was almost completely eaten, just legs/feet and the bones left behind. I’ve never seen entrails left in the pile of feathers before, as seen in the second picture. What would your guess be as to what the predator was? We are in Rural NC and definitely have many predators such as hawks, opossums, coyotes, and foxes.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - sorry for the circumstances. I would guess that the predator was a raptor of some sort. Scattered feathers, left bones/carcass and entrails are pretty much their signature.

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC!

So sorry for your loss. It sounds the work of a hawk (or other bird of prey).

 

[Purelychicks]

Welcome to BYC!

So sorry for your loss. It sounds the work of a hawk (or other bird of prey).

Birds don’t do it like that.. we have had hawk and owl problems Severly bad and they always rip head off and leave rest

 

[Purelychicks]

Could be a bird but usually they rip heads off. Probably a fox or coyote

 

[SSiwek1]

Hi everyone,

I sadly lost a hen yesterday. We’ve had some predator issues on and off but this was different. There was one large pile of feathers, and oddly, the entrails were in this pile. Not too far away in the woods I found the carcass. It was almost completely eaten, just legs/feet and the bones left behind. I’ve never seen entrails left in the pile of feathers before, as seen in the second picture. What would your guess be as to what the predator was? We are in Rural NC and definitely have many predators such as hawks, opossums, coyotes, and foxes.

I has the exact same thing happen to me this weekend to a couple of my young ones (8 weeks old). Did you every find out what it was and did it come back for more? I attached my pics, looks the same to me. Very strange, has me baffled.

 

[Kanekoded]

Welcome!!

Sometimes hawks will leave the intestines.

 

[SSiwek1]

Thanks, we do have Hawks around here. There was a nest up in the trees last spring. Haven't seen them since, maybe they are back.

 

[Boomboomboyo]

Defiantly a bird of prey most likely a hawk since you mentioned the nest