Deer carcass could spell trouble
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Mike Swanson
A partially eaten deer found at Top of the World Elementary School
last week had school officials warning teachers and children to keep
an eye out for mountain lions.
The deer, first reported Sept. 22 but not found by Animal Services
officers until Sept. 23, had been dead for days, Animal Services
Officer Dave Pietarila said. Pietarila assumed municipal services had
already picked up the buck deer when he couldn’t find it Sept. 22,
but it turned up at the rear of the campus Sept. 23, leaning against
the gate.
“Every carrion eater west of the Mississippi had had a bite of it
by the time I saw it,” Pietarila said. “It had insect activity,
maggots, and its rear was pretty thoroughly eaten.”
The deer had no broken limbs, bite marks on its neck or claw marks
raked across its back -- all typical signs of a mountain lion attack.
Pietarila wouldn’t rule out the possibility, however, that the deer
could have been attacked by a mountain lion.
“It’s as possible as everything else,” Pietarila said.
Animal Services officers always assume there’s a mountain lion
around so they’ll be ready for one when picking up dead or injured
deer. Pietarila said this isn’t the first time he’s seen one turn up
at one of the schools.
“We live in a wildlife area,” Pietarila said. “We’ve seen a number
of bobcats this year, and we have coyotes galore. It’s something
people at the schools should always be aware of, because they’re in
wilderness areas.”
School officials are continuing to encourage students and teachers
to be aware of their surroundings.
“Our highest priority is keeping our schools safe for the kids and
providing as few worries as possible so they can learn and have fun,”
Assistant Supt. Steven Keller said.
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