This message is from: "Janet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi Linda,
I'm not too sure what could have attacked the horse, but I think you can
rule out bear and cougar. I've had dogs and sheep attacked by both, and the
claw marks would be much further apart (more like one inch or more apart)
and the width of the claw mark would be as thick as a pencil. The punctures
from a bite wound would be more typically on the back of the neck near the
shoulders, and the claw marks typically would be over the back or hips. I
think even our smaller cats (lynx and bob cat) would have claws spaced
further apart.
One of the best ways to determine whodunnit, is to measure the impression of
the dentition on the bite wound. If you can identify the upper canine teeth
and measure the distance between them. Also measure the width of the tooth.
Animals are remarkably consistant in this spacing and size of the tooth.
We do have some other tree dwelling critters here, like fishers and pine
martins, that are rather rare, but can be very aggressive, but I don't
think they would attack a horse.
Janet
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