Identifying predators — a role for veterinary pathologists

Abstract

Extract

Predator identification has traditionally been the domain of ecologists who have relied on the “feeding sign” left by various predator species at the nest or carcass. Thus destructive animals such as cats and dogs can be distinguished from relatively clean predators such as mustelids and “messy” predators such as possums and rats. The presence of scats or foot imprints, and the location of the nest or carcass are also useful signs, however in many cases it may be impossible to distinguish between predators and scavengers. New technology such as time-lapse photography and video surveillance are valuable tools but still cannot monitor every event. Veterinary pathology can play a useful role by carefully examining and recording the site and severity of lesions and distinguishing between ante— and post mortem tissue damage, using histopathology if necessary. Distances between the canine teeth can be measured from bite marks in the skin and subcutaneous tissues, and mammalian fur on the claws and beak of larger birds can be identified by measuring fibre length and diameter.