Technical Note
An Experimental Study of Vertebrate Scavenging Behavior in a Northwest European Woodland Context
Alexandria Young Ph.D.,
Richard Stillman Ph.D.,
Martin J. Smith Ph.D.,
Amanda H. Korstjens Ph.D.,
Corresponding Author
Alexandria Young Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Additional information and reprint requests:
Dr. Alexandria Young
Bournemouth University
Faculty of Science and Technology
Christchurch House
Fern Barrow
Bournemouth
Poole
Dorset BH12 5BB
U.K.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRichard Stillman Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Search for more papers by this authorMartin J. Smith Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Search for more papers by this authorAmanda H. Korstjens Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Search for more papers by this authorAlexandria Young Ph.D.,
Richard Stillman Ph.D.,
Martin J. Smith Ph.D.,
Amanda H. Korstjens Ph.D.,
Corresponding Author
Alexandria Young Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Additional information and reprint requests:
Dr. Alexandria Young
Bournemouth University
Faculty of Science and Technology
Christchurch House
Fern Barrow
Bournemouth
Poole
Dorset BH12 5BB
U.K.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRichard Stillman Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Search for more papers by this authorMartin J. Smith Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Search for more papers by this authorAmanda H. Korstjens Ph.D.
School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University, Christchurch House, Dorset, BH12 5BB U.K
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Vertebrate scavengers can modify surface deposited human remains which can hinder forensic investigations. The effects of such scavenging vary between species and regions. Published research into the effects of the scavenging of human remains is dominated by work from North America with few studies covering Northwestern Europe. Forensic scientists, investigators, and police search officers in Northwestern Europe are often left questioning on a basic level as to which scavengers are active and how they might affect human remains. This paper presents the results of a field study utilizing deer (Cervus nippon; Capreolus capreolus) as surface deposits observed by motion detection cameras in a British woodland. The most common avian and rodent scavenger species recorded included the buzzard (Buteo buteo), carrion crow (Corvus corone), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The scavenging behaviors observed were affected by seasonality, rates of decomposition, and insect activity. Scavenging by buzzards, unlike carrion crows, was most frequent during fall to winter and prior to insect activity. Overall, avian scavengers modified and scavenged soft tissue. Rodents scavenged both fresh and skeletonized remains with gray squirrels only scavenging skeletal remains. Wood mice were most active in winter and scavenged both soft tissue and bone.
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