Vertebrate scavenging patterns during extreme winter conditions in North Dakota.

ABSTRACT: The decomposition process for above-the-ground human remains is usually divided into five stages: fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and skeletal remains. The chronology of these stages is influenced by numerous factors, including environmental temperature, microbial proliferation, necrophagous insect species activity, and vertebrate scavenging. The current research aimed to investigate the vertebrate scavenger's activity during North Dakota winters, using pig carcasses as human analogues. The carcasses were placed outdoors in December 2022, on Mekinock Field Station, Grand Forks County ND, and monitored until the snow melted in May 2023. The monitoring took place daily via trail cameras with motion sensors, while the temperature was recorded hourly using temperature data loggers.

SUBMITTER: Iancu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12749515 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature