Double Naught Spy
Well-Known
Back when I did zooarchaeology (analysis of animal bones from archaeological sites) we did the analysis of bones from a historic well (used as a trash dump) that contained the remains of a lot of animals. Apparently, hunters would skin out their kills and dump the carcasses in the well. We found lots of skinning marks on the bones and such.
One of the things that was really interesting was the number of opossum ribs that showed signs of healed fractures, along with a couple legs bones. In checking our comparative collection, we had opossums with healed fractures on the ribs as well. Turns out, opossums occasionally fall from trees, sort of like squirrels and monkeys. Those not killed as a result of the fall will often have healed fractures. Those that suffer enough damage won't live long enough for the bones to heal.
The dead opossum may simply be another such example of one that died as a result of injuries from a fall.
One of the things that was really interesting was the number of opossum ribs that showed signs of healed fractures, along with a couple legs bones. In checking our comparative collection, we had opossums with healed fractures on the ribs as well. Turns out, opossums occasionally fall from trees, sort of like squirrels and monkeys. Those not killed as a result of the fall will often have healed fractures. Those that suffer enough damage won't live long enough for the bones to heal.
The dead opossum may simply be another such example of one that died as a result of injuries from a fall.