by Chris Thompson
Have you ever wondered what makes up the cleaning crew at Schmeeckle Reserve? We are not talking the hard working student crews who keep the trails clear and the facilities looking nice, but the creatures that clean up Schmeeckle when an animal perishes within the Reserve borders.
Recently, the Friends of Schmeeckle were made aware of a deer that was unfortunately killed in a vehicle strike. The Friends of Schmeeckle decided to place a trail camera by the carcass to see what animals constitute the cleaning crew of Schmeeckle Reserve – the scavengers.
*** Don’t worry, care was taken to make sure no graphic images were within picture area!
Crow – these curious birds are true opportunistic feeders, and often an early arrival at any carcass.
Opossum – our state’s only marsupial. Opossum’s diet is extremely broad – including insects, eggs, carrion (obviously!), small animals, also fruits and other plant matter.
Skunk – this visitor could be smelt when checking the site. Fortunately, it was caught on the camera too.
Gray Fox – a family was observed feeding on the carcass over a couple of days. These small canids are less often seen than the more recognizable red fox (which also inhabits Schmeeckle Reserve). Fun fact – the gray fox is our most arboreal member of the dog family. Capable of climbing trees, gray fox sometimes make their dens off the ground in stumps or holes in trees.
Ultimately, Schmeeckle’s local large carnivore (the coyote) ended the photos when it carried the deer off to feed without the camera’s prying eye. With one animal’s sacrifice, many were able to feed and survive.