In neighbors yard with no head

[Silkiechicken66]

Just a few minutes ago, my neighbor knocked on the door and said there was a duck in her backyard. Went to check it out, and found my female Muscovy dead. Whatever killed her drug her over there and chewed off her head. I’ve never had a predator attack like this. Any help is appreciated!!

 

[2 many chickens]

Probably a hawk. I had a hawk kill a few of my birds and they looked like that. I would say raccoon if this was at night.

 

[Silkiechicken66]

Probably a hawk. I had a hawk kill a few of my birds and they looked like that. I would say raccoon if this was at night.

I believe this was at night. I’ve been out and about in the yard today, and didn’t notice any commotion. Would a raccoon be able to drag her over a fence? She’s a 10lb duck, so I imagine it would be pretty hard to drag her over there.

 

[Wezdin]

Raccoons are determined and strong, a big coon could do that for sure.

 

[Silkiechicken66]

Raccoons are determined and strong, a big coon could do that for sure.

One thing that’s confusing is there’s no sigh of dragging or disturbance on the fence or the mud around it. I know it didn’t rain, so you’d think there’d be some signs of it! It’s just very confusing overall.

 

[centrarchid]

Look closely at blood / fluids smeared on feathers of breast. That is first sign that rules out a raptor for me. A fox, coyote, or bobcat will more likely remove carcass farther away. Opossums will sometimes drag items but usually no more than a few feet. Opossums also often start attack and feeding at birds flank owing to how catch prey. Raccoons will try to wrestle victim down and chomp on head and neck when prey trying to get away. Raccoons will sometimes move a prey item a few tens of feet and even climb with it.

Raccoon would be my first guess. I would set trap(s) and use carcass as bait.

 

[hayley3]

I would say raccoon and maybe some other predator helped after the raccoon left.

 

[Silkiechicken66]

Look closely at blood / fluids smeared on feathers of breast. That is first sign that rules out a raptor for me. A fox, coyote, or bobcat will more likely remove carcass farther away. Opossums will sometimes drag items but usually no more than a few feet. Opossums also often start attack and feeding at birds flank owing to how catch prey. Raccoons will try to wrestle victim down and chomp on head and neck when prey trying to get away. Raccoons will sometimes move a prey item a few tens of feet and even climb with it.

Raccoon would be my first guess. I would set trap(s) and use carcass as bait.

Sounds about right. I’ve dealt with hawk and opossum attacks, and this didn’t seem like either. I’m setting traps tonight!

 

[cmom]

It could have been an owl, they take the heads off. Over the years I have had a few owls kill birds. If you have a game camera put it up because the predator will be back and then you will know what it is. This was my recent predator. I did manage to catch it. It is a great horned owl. Good luck...

 

[hayley3]

It could have been an owl, they take the heads off. Over the years I have had a few owls kill birds. If you have a game camera put it up because the predator will be back and then you will know what it is. This was my recent predator. I did manage to catch it. It is a great horned owl. Good luck...
View attachment 2072153

Do the owls pluck the feathers?