Relocation of remains : scavenger patterns in north central Oklahoma.

Abstract

The processes by which clandestine remains are scattered and destroyed by vertebrate necrophagus scavenging behaviors are significant to forensic death investigations, in terms of focusing search techniques, improving remains recovery, and contributing to more timely and successful case resolution. This research was derived directly from field work involving cases of scavenged remains where recovery was highly incomplete, leaving a question of whether scorch techniques were inadequate or if the remains had been destroyed and were simply irrecoverable. This study utilized domestic pig (Sus scrofa) carcasses placed at a wildlife conservation area during three different seasons, to assess members of the scavenger guild of the area, their associated behavior, and related effect on remains to address these issues. Carcasses were observed by digital video, motion triggered, game cameras, and site visits. Biological radio telemetry transmitters, which are typically used to track living wildlife, were implanted in carcasses to assess long distance movement of skeletal elements. It was shown that that were three main participants in the vertebrate scavenger guild, the coyote (Canis latrans), the Virginia opossum (Didelphis viriginianen), and the bobcat (Lynx rufus). Each of these species left unique taphonomic identifiers on the carcasses. They also contributed significantly to the destruction and dispersal of skeletal elements. There an clear patterns in time of carcass acquisition, tissues consumed by each species, and the subsequent dispersal of elements caused by each activity. Scavenging drastically increases time to skeletonization over comparable controls and highly effects estimations of post-deposition interval. Further research is needed to understand if these patterns are similar in human adult remains and other ecoregions.