Hard to say what did in this mink that Button found on our hike today. Though it was positioned under a fallen limb, it's doubtful that played any role in its death. There were no apparent injuries, but my examination was cursory at best. It's been a light winter so far for humans, but who knows what hardships face a hungry mustelid at this time of year?
That white spot under the chin is a "dead" give away.
ReplyDeleteThanks for waking up this blog, Susan. I have a few things to post when I get some free time.
Could it be hemorrhagic pneumonia perhaps that caused it's demise? If you look closely at the nose and mouth area in the last photo, it appears as though there may have been some prior bleeding.
ReplyDeleteOooh, Dr. Donna! I am impressed. In fact, I may just make a return trip to look a little more closely at the face, as well as the area above its front leg (at the end of that little forked stick). There was nothing bloody-looking to me when I was there taking the pix, but now I'm questioning that tousled fur and what appears to be reddish coloration.
ReplyDeleteI think that the bloody fluids from the oral and nasal cavities are "purge" or "decomposition fluids" that can be a normal post mortem finding. After death, there are coagulopathies which begin (poor clotting).
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