Mystery Duck Predator

WiseOwl5

Chirping
Apr 30, 2016
67
1
54
Crooked Creek, Alberta, Canada
We have some ducks in a chain link fence enclosure (dog kennel) with no roof. Yesterday when we were going to feed the ducks we found one dead in the shelter with its neck striped. We found on the outside of the enclosure there were bird tracks, but that could just be magpies (a bird that feeds on carrion). Now today we found a duck with the neck and head off and a neck bone lying somewhere. What could this be?

Please keep in mind that as we are in Canada we do not have raccoons or anything. We have had foxes, but would they climb chainlink? We also have skunks, could it be that?
 
Owl or hawk is much higher on list that cats. Signs very consistent with raptors.

If night killsm then owls. If day, then owl or hawk but most likely owl at your latitude. You have two possibly three heavy hitting owls in your area; Great-horned and closely related Snowy Owl plus the Great Gray Owl.
 
An owl will make ab initial kill and feed. If prey is to large to move off owl will leave it and return the next night. Your clues are the jead and neck area being eaten and nothng else, and the body pulled near the side. You wont find tracks.
 
Ok. That makes sense. Ducks are pretty big I guess. But why wouldn't it have eaten the rest of the duck?



Neck area is first area generally consumed. When full it moves off to safer location until ready to each again.

It would have finished carcass in coming days, and likely moved carcass when was reduced enough to move. When I have an owl or other raptor make i kill, the carcass is left in place and sometimes tide down. Gives me more time to beef up defenses for balance of flock before owl starts making additional kills.
 

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