which predator ?

[MooseToo]

in our area of south/central ky we experience virtually no problems with predator attacks on cattle - therefore, there's a lot of speculation when something does happen -
recently a small yearling steer, about 600 pounds, had to be put down because of head injuries - a lot of mauling around eyes and lips, ear torn off, etc - but no evidence of having been eaten on - no tracks, no claw marks evident - it was found next to a dead full-grown cow that had gone down about twelve hours earlier - that cow showed no evidence of attack -
some suggest bear - but my feeling is the bear would have worked over the dead cow before becoming interested in the steer -
does that logic hold true for a big cat ?
so if it's neither cat nor bear, about all that leaves is coyotes or wolves - right ?
interested to hear opinions from you guys _

[Capndog]

Over the years of having seen the effects of most natural predators,
few if any kill when a food source is available.
My guess.
DOGS.

[DM]

Over the years of having seen the effects of most natural predators,
few if any kill when a food source is available.
My guess.
DOGS.


I myself have seen wolves kill, for the sake of killing. They can have plenty to eat, and will just keep on killing.

Like i said, i have seen it myself.

I'm NOT implying that wolves did the above killing though...

DM

[flatwater]

I would have to say dogs also. Have you ever had trouble with dog packs in the area?

[MooseToo]

no trouble with dogs previously - and all the dogs living in the near area were checked and no signs of blood on anybody -
very well could be a new bunch from somewhere -

[walls0stone]

sounds like what we had in Pa 20 years ago. Coyotes came into this area and PA said we had non..but I shot one last month BIG! not like the Yot of the west, but more wolf like. they now know they are here, but for along time, you'd hear stories of coy-dogs...half tame strays that kill... but now it's the large coyotee that does such work.

still, I don't knwo why wht older animal would be dead with no marks?

[MooseToo]

reportedly, the cow died from natural causes about half a day before the calf attack - both in the same shelter -

[harvester]

I would highly suspect dogs did it. Wolves have sence enough to stay clear of the head and you would have found many marks on the hind legs and belly of the calf. Also you would have found some eating of the carcass going on.
A Bear is not going to typically waste its energy to kill something and then not eat it. And most likely would have eaten the downed cow before tackling a live calf.
Coyotes would have went for the downed cow before the calf too. they are small animals and not usually as brave about bringing down large prey as a wolf is. Again they would not have went for the head but the softer parts of the animals body.
Cats tend to leave gashes along the sides, back and neck of the prey they are attempting to bring down. Attacking the head is a waste of time and puts the cat in danger of injury to itself.
Wild predatory animals are very aware of injury to self. Attacking heads only allows for an injury to the attacker to be most likely. They just dont do it.
Dogs seems the only logical answer as dogs will typically go for the head. especially if there is only one dog doing the attacking. Dogs dont get it when it comes to pulling down large prey, they make a game of it therefore playing and worrying the head of the animal that is trying to protect its self. As former animal control 100% of dog attacks on livestock that I responded to or witnesses in action, had severly injured heads and there was no eating of the carcass.

[MooseToo]

thanks, harvester - that does make a lot of sense -