Wolf Head CSI Fun Time

TL;DR

In this video, the host performs a CSI project by examining a wolf skull to determine if it was killed by a mountain lion or shot.

Transcript

Yeah, blood all over the fridge. It bled. Kinda funny, on the bottle of Simple Green it doesn't specify that, uh, it's good for also cleaning up wolf blood out of your fridge. It works. Hey everyone, so today we're going to be doing a fun CSI project. You may have seen the footage of us preparing a wolf that was donated from Fish, Wildlife & Parks.... Read More

Key Insights

• 💀 Examining the bite size on a wolf skull can help determine if it was killed by a mountain lion.
• 🤕 The condition of a wolf pelt can provide information about its age and possible cause of death.
• 🙂 Old wolves often have lighter coats and damaged teeth.
• ☠️ The traumatic injuries and broken bones on the skull suggest a more excessive force of impact than a typical mountain lion kill.
• 🤨 Discovering bullet fragments raises the possibility of the wolf being shot.
• 💀 The examination of a wolf skull provides valuable insights into the dynamics of predation in native wilderness ecosystems.
• 💀 The process of cleaning and dissecting a wolf skull involves removing tissue, muscle, and brain matter.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can examining the bite size of a wolf skull determine if it was killed by a mountain lion?

By comparing the size of the bite to known mountain lion skull sizes, researchers can determine if the bite matches the typical pattern of a mountain lion kill.

Q: What are some signs that the wolf was old?

The wolf has a lighter coat, which is common in aging wolves. Additionally, its teeth are damaged and worn down, indicating old age.

Q: Why is it important to determine if the wolf was killed by a mountain lion?

Examining the dynamics of predation in ecosystems helps researchers understand how these ecosystems function and provides valuable insight into native wilderness.

Q: What other possible cause of death does the host consider?

The host finds fragments of a bullet, suggesting a possible gunshot as the cause of death for the wolf.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The host collects a wolf skull to determine if it was killed by a mountain lion by matching the size of the bite to mountain lion skulls in their collection.

• The wolf pelt is in a rotting condition with mold spots, and the host begins the process of cleaning and dissecting the skull.

• The skull shows signs of being an old wolf, with a lighter coat, damaged teeth, and evidence of trauma and broken bones, suggesting it may not have been killed by a mountain lion.