missing head, mostly buried...in AK so some common ones off the list

[kmpaulick]

Please help!! My sweetest, favorite Buff Orp (Mable) was found tonight, when we noticed we were one short as the girls headed to their house. Eventually found her in the woods. Some feathers around but not a bunch, head and crop missing. I almost didn't notice her, she was probably 75% buried. I let them free range during the day, and they didn't get out until probably 10am today so it wasn't an early riser.

In Alaska we don't have a lot of the common predators (no racoons, skunks or snakes) I read about on this thread. There are a lot of big predators, but it wasn't one of those. I've read about bobcats taking just the head but am curious if anyone has any idea about other possibilities. I've had a great horned owl take one, but there was only a pile of feathers (caught him attacking another). This seemed different.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[44Wolves]

Fox, opossum or maybe even a fisher?

 

[centrarchid]

For me great-horned owls and red foxes will do the head only bit. The great-horned attacks trying to restrain victim by head. The owl often starts eating what is in talons consuming easy parts first which can include meat on neck and crop. Red fox that is skilled at taking chickens will attempt multiple victims by quickly decapitating a victim then moving to another before flock leaves area. Fox usually has to work at pulling head off and a good amount of neck comes with it. Fox does not seem to eat head immediately since it is more concerned with promptly caching catch.