What killed this lamb?

[EJS]

Found this lamb dead this morning- 3 sock lambs 12 weeks old in paddock near yard for creep feeding. Other 2 were terrified and wouldn't eat. It's still got stomach just no head or shoulders - completely gone from paddock.

 

[P.O.T]

Badger

 

[BELOWAVERAGE]

Badger

That doesn't look like a badger's work to me, more like a fox, probably died rather than being killed though.

 

[jemski]

I'd imagine it died and either badger or fox has had a free meal

 

[Still Farming]

2 legged vermin

 

[It was already broken.]

Looks more eaten than killed. Also discolouration around the back end looks like it might have had fly strike maybe.

 

[Bones]

View attachment 541326 Found this lamb dead this morning- 3 sock lambs 12 weeks old in paddock near yard for creep feeding. Other 2 were terrified and wouldn't eat. It's still got stomach just no head or shoulders - completely gone from paddock.

If other 2 were terrified ,then its a dog attack .

 

[A1an]

That's the fox, taken the front end to feed cubs. Id stake out the remaining part of the carcass, he'll be back tonight.

Whether or not the fox killed it or found it dead is another matter but its definitely the fox that's halved it like that.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Columbo would struggle to find out who killed that lamb with what's left.....as usual, sheep like to die, something likes to take advantage of it

 

[Wooly]

Fox........badger tends to go into the stomach first.

Probably died before the Fox got there.




Won't hold up in a court of law as there were no witnesses, so the Fox walks free !

 

[EJS]

Thanks for replies- loads of badgers here and few foxes, just not seen anything leave guts. There was alot of blood where it died - thats why I thought it had been killed. Fox took advantage I guess.

 

[Dry Rot]

Are foxes or badgers hunting in family groups at this time of the year? Or have the litters split up?

 

[scatterbrainedlass]

Sorry to jump on your post, but interested with some saying badgers go for the guts... Found the remains of a lamb a couple of days ago, the ears had been cleanly removed and the stomach was gone, leaving all the skin on it's back like a coat. Legs were still intact too, just some of the chest had been eaten. We know there are foxes in the area so assumed that's what it was, but could this have been a badger??

 

[A1an]

was the tail still on?

Missing ears, tails and face meat is a trait of mr fox.

There will be big cubs about now so the normal "rule of thumb" tends to be not so obvious this time of year.

 

[scatterbrainedlass]

was the tail still on?

Missing ears, tails and face meat is a trait of mr fox.

There will be big cubs about now so the normal "rule of thumb" tends to be not so obvious this time of year.

Tail & ears gone, face/head still intact.

 

[wilber]

it's heart stopped.

 

[GAM]

We had a ewe like that lambing, we found the badger crossing the next field with a mouth full of flesh and bones, that was in April!

 

[EJS]

Are foxes or badgers hunting in family groups at this time of the year? Or have the litters split up?

Just found a vixen with 2 big cubs living or at least out each day in orchard very close to yard - almost certain it was them now, acting as a pack?

 

[EJS]

Sorry to jump on your post, but interested with some saying badgers go for the guts... Found the remains of a lamb a couple of days ago, the ears had been cleanly removed and the stomach was gone, leaving all the skin on it's back like a coat. Legs were still intact too, just some of the chest had been eaten. We know there are foxes in the area so assumed that's what it was, but could this have been a badger??

Could well be, we have alot of badgers here and they definitely clear up carcass

 

[Dry Rot]

Just found a vixen with 2 big cubs living or at least out each day in orchard very close to yard - almost certain it was them now, acting as a pack?

Sounds reasonable.