Really random as in WTH? Death match: Eagle takes down deer

Oldschool 2o4f

Shared on Tue, 09/24/2013 - 07:31

A seemingly unlikely battle between a golden eagle and a baby deer was photographed by a camera trap set up to capture poachers seeking Russia’s endangered tigers.

The three images captured by the camera cover a 2-second period, and show an adult golden eagle clinging to the deer's back. Its carcass was found two weeks later, just a few yards from the camera, initially puzzling researchers.

The paper and images appear in the September issue of the Journal of Raptor Research. Authors include Linda Kerley of the Zoological Society of London and Jonathan Slaght of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

More at http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/09/24/death-match-eagle-takes-down-deer/?intcmp=features

Comments

DEEP_NNN's picture
Submitted by DEEP_NNN on Tue, 09/24/2013 - 15:49

Keep searching. I think this story is a hoax or will be confirmed to be a hoax. Linda Kerley, Zoological Society of London may be real. From Wikipedia regarding golden Eagles and Ungulates. "Almost all predation on live ungulates is directed at lambs, fawns or kids and these mostly in the first few months of life.[142] Once they exceed a certain size, it is not practical for breeding eagles to predate the growing ungulates not only due to the difficult and dangerous nature of the kill but also the fact it would be too heavy to carry to the nest."

Oldschool 2o4f's picture
Submitted by Oldschool 2o4f on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 07:38

Realize that deer is not full grown, says so in the article.

I have looked further. There are reports of eagles knocking goats off mountainsides and simply eating them after they fall to their deaths.

Also I've been told of an unsubstantiated (at this point) use of raptors to help fend off wolves from sheep. Haven't confirmed this yet. Crazy wild IF it's true.

DEEP_NNN's picture
Submitted by DEEP_NNN on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 09:31

The article is sensationalized even if the photo is real (I don't think it is). If it is a baby deer then the story is not unusual and not news worthy (it does not appear to be a baby spotted deer of the Sika variety)(a winter fawn, really?). See what I mean? Anyway, I'm not jumping on you. I shouldn't even have commented. It's these these poorly researched articles fielded by the media for hits and discussion and then they say oops and even worse, carry on as if they did nothing wrong. It pisses me off. I wouldn't even put it past the wildlife team to create an article like this for fund raising purposes. I read one of their webpages and they are begging for funding. More likely, the Dr. mentioned will deny it all as a hoax.

Oldschool 2o4f's picture
Submitted by Oldschool 2o4f on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 11:55

Join our Universe

Connect with 2o2p