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Animals attacked, snake to blame?

Kekmet

Birdface
Hi all,

I have little knowledge of Michigan herpetology, so I throw myself on the wisdom of the corn snakes forum. I come to you with second hand information only, which is sure to be of great assistance. I'll try to get you all the information they gave me (since I am the 'snake lady' at work, apparently I'm supposed to know everything about local snakes?)

At some local farms out in the boondocks around the city, there have been some very strange animal attacks on local farmcats. Whatever is attacking these cats has been almost 'scalping' them around the neck and leaving two small bite marks about two inches apart. The puncture marks are perfectly round and there's no swelling in the area or discoloration from what I've been told.

About three cats on two neighboring farms have been found this way, and three more are missing. 'Some sort of snake' was spotted on the farm when this was happening so it was immediately blamed, but I don't really think that sounds like a snake, at least not a local one. Michigan snakes don't typically get big enough to challenge a cat, and a 1 1/2 to 2 inch spread on the fangs seems pretty darn big.

Has anyone ever encountered any similar wounds, or know if a snake would even be able to do that in the first place? Any ideas and/or mockery would be helpful.
 
All of the cats were dead when they had found, but it looked like one of the cats had gone from the barn to the house after getting bitten.

The largest snake in Michigan only gets to about 8 feet long and is a constrictor- actually a black rat snake. So I don't think it could be the culprit, I think it was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and is taking the fall.

It's probably more likely to be a possum- or a sick person- than a snake.
 
I'd say it's about 99% likely it's a sick person! Does not sound like any animal whatsoever.
 
I'm pretty positive it's not a snake... If they died of a broken neck, I'd say a dog because they generally bite and shake. If it's exsanguination, I have no idea. Maybe some other animal...
 
You've got a Jr. Jeffry Dohmer out there with a tazer killing cats.

I'm not kidding either. I would not be at all surprised if this is not human caused.
 
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I was fairly certain it wasn't a snake, but wanted to get some input from others that knew snakes better than I.

An animal is one thing, but the thought that a person could do that is seriously creepy. Of course, people do worse on a regular basis I guess. Sleep well everyone...
 
Snakes wouldn't cause scalping. About two years ago, I had a young male goat kid that got bit on the inner thigh of one of his back legs. There was no scalping and two very small puncture wounds. If it was an animal doing it, the "bite" marks would be more jagged and be more tears.

It sounds like you have someone running around who likes killing animals.
 
Snakes wouldn't cause scalping. About two years ago, I had a young male goat kid that got bit on the inner thigh of one of his back legs. There was no scalping and two very small puncture wounds. If it was an animal doing it, the "bite" marks would be more jagged and be more tears.

It sounds like you have someone running around who likes killing animals.
Yeah I agree, all signs here point to one sick person. Try looking for kids first, boys especially, and then move up in age. You want this person to get help before they move on to bigger things... like people.
 
Has the actual cause of death been established? If it was a constricting snake, you'd be looking for broken bones and crush injuries with suffocation as the cause of death. There's no way a non-venomous snake could kill a cat just by biting it and I assume snake venom has been ruled out?

Can't figure out the scalping part. No snake would have the "equipment" to remove patches of fur from a cat's head.
 
Why in the world would a snake have prey by the neck and then just let it go and leave it to die? Snakes are opportunistic. They don't work hard stalking, striking, and killing prey to just get bored and wander off!

Has anybody considered a raccoon? They can tear up chickens pretty bad (like pull off heads through a pen) and then not take the whole thing as a meal. And I have seen them get REALLY big.
 
has been almost 'scalping' them around the neck and leaving two small bite marks about two inches apart. The puncture marks are perfectly round and there's no swelling in the area or discoloration from what I've been told.
This information clearly indicates it's a sick human being?? How? Where? By what assumption?

It's so obvious it's ludicrous that it's alien abductions for testing reasons. The end is near.

D80
 
Statistically, animal torture & killing is overwhelmingly a male behavior. But yes, females have been known to do it.

Depends on when the statistics are from. Ten years ago, male teenagers were the worst drivers and thus had higher insurance premiums. Now, female teenagers are just as bad and are starting to get higher insurance premiums. Times are changing.
 
How about something from the Mustelidae family? Mink? Wolverine? Pine Marten? They have been known to maim and kill just for the joy of it.

Otherwise, I'd say some sick son of a you-know-what who is in SERIOUS need of being apprehended, followed by intense intervention and therapy.
 
I say its a bird of prey. My mom's friend has a farm and frequently has kittens and small cats taken by red tailed hawks in the area.
 
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