Warning! Bear Kill Photos

So here we go folks, the bear kill photos, as promised.  These are just a few of the many many I have. 

For those that might be interested, I've added a link that describes the different types of predator attacks.  I tried to copy and paste a bit, but it shows up in a messed up format. 

http://www.cattlemen.bc.ca/docs/investigation%20_%20evaluation%20of%20predator%20kill%20attacks.pdf

These first three are of the first calf I found.  He looks a bit odd as his stomach contents have been completely removed and eaten.  The damage at the withers is very typical of a bear attack, although it had been eaten on by other smaller animals before I found it.      

 This next photo shows bruising under the skin around the wound to his back/neck area.  There is less of the calf to take photos of as probably a coyote had been there for a good dinner before the Conservation Officer got there.    

Here you can see the damage to his neck and face.  

I'm sure you are all well aware that there would be no bruising at all if the animal had died of sickness etc, and then been eaten on.  His heart was most certainly pumping when the chewing and beating began.  

The following are those of the cow.  

Oh dang it.... a dead cow, no marks visible.  

Skinning poor O404 out.  Just look at the bruising to the neck and face!  This was not a gentle way to pass out of this world.      

The hide is coming right off here, and you can see the trauma to her neck, withers area and shoulders.  

The bruising went very deep in her throat area.  

This photo shows the difference between what a skinned out carcass should look like (the back half of her body) and what the bear did to her front end.   

The skinned out hide lying in front of the cow to show the bruising and area damaged.  What a battle it must have been!  

And if that was not enough, here are a few of her calf. 

If you are sick of looking at these, think of how we feel.  
We raised these animals.    

Cowboy (Henry's dog) checking the scene for us.  You can partly see the slough here, that was flattened during the fight between momma cow and the bear.  And yes, those are cattle in the background.  Smart, aren't they?   

Obvious claw marks in the wither area.  

Bruising beneath the hide (what was left) and claw marks.  

What you see from the outside of the nose.  

What you see on the inside.  

Ouch.  

All of these photos were taken for the verification process and sent to the Conservation Officer Service of the Ministry of Environment.  

Okay, thats enough for tonight.  

I'll stop writing gruesome posts (as long as the bear leaves us alone) and get back to the gentler side of ranch life.  

The best to you all, 

Punky