Pretty Gross (graphic)

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted February 4, 2011521 views8 comments

Ron Dudley and I have been going way up into northern Utah looking for Golden Eagles to photograph and along the way we have come across a stretch of road, perhaps about 1/4 of a mile in length, that we have noticed very bizarre things.

Last week we noticed a dead cat hung in a low shrub and another dead cat hung over a fencepost. Yesterday was even more bizarre when in that same stretch of road we came across this tree "decorated" (I say that with disgust) with one dead white cat, two red foxes and a single raven. You can't see the raven in this shot because it is behind the uppermost fox. There was a fence to the right of the frame that made it difficult to show all of the animals on the tree.

I have no idea why someone would kill these animals and then string them up on trees or fenceposts. But it is pretty disgusting. Any ideas about this?

D200, handheld, f10, 1/500, ISO 400, 18-200mm VR at 50mm, natural light, 79% of full frame.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 4, 2011 at 3:01 PM

Mia,

My first guess is a photographer baiting birds hoping a Golden Eagle or similar will come in and check it out. I'd suspect they are putting them in the trees like that so they aren't eaten quickly by other things and it would force any interested parties (like Golden Eagles) to perch on something nearby or spend time flying above giving the photographer a chance to shoot. I'd contact that states Dept. of Environmental Protection (or Conservation or whatever it's called)

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Hank Pennington on February 4, 2011 at 5:21 PM

I agree with your reaction Mia. If there's an explanation beyond depravity, I'm with Luke. There's a fair chance someone is using them for bait. A photographer? It wouldn't surprise me, because I see lots of other objectionable practices in regular use. Kind of puts a new twist on the popular phrase "killer photo" however. And yes, this needs reporting.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 1532 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 5, 2011 at 11:12 PM

Beyond comprehension why someone would do this, if it is a photographer then no award winning photo would be worth this ! That would be have to be a major trophy hunting photographer to do something like this!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by John Wiker on February 6, 2011 at 12:50 PM

A total disregard for the animal world, aren't people wonderful.

Registered on August 7, 2007, 24 Posts, 37 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on February 13, 2011 at 6:48 PM

A very disturbing image Mia, but an important one. I wonder if there's a natural explanation perhaps - maybe a bird or other animal "caching" these animals until they're ready to eat them. Certainly, it's a strange combination of animals for a human to gather, unless they're just totally bereft of feelings and compassion. Thanks for sharing - would love to know the final explanation, if there is one.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 13, 2011 at 6:54 PM

Bill & all,

The Utah Humane Society is looking into this. I'm fairly certain this wasn't a photographer trying to bait a Golden Eagle as the branches these critters are hung on and thin and an Eagle would have a hard time finding support for its weight on the outside branches.

I think someone there might being very odd is all.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 1, 2011 at 9:02 PM

Baffling image Mia, God only knows.. Most likely human depravity, but who knows?
There could another explanation..Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction

TFS this one

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on March 5, 2011 at 7:45 PM

Mia, in sheep country it used to be standard practice to leave the carcasses of dead predators hanging in bushes (or more often out here,) on barbwire fences. A mute testament to a battle won in the fight to protect their animals. The practice is not as common as it once was due to public disapproval but you still see it occasionally. Why anyone would do that with foxes and cats is beyond me. Unless they are raising and 'protecting' mice. A sad and disgusting sight.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments