Dead Deer Rotting Time: How Long Does it Take?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
A user discovered a dead deer on their property, which appeared to be suffering from a lethal hair loss disease, reminiscent of previous sarcoptic mange outbreaks. They expressed concern about how to manage the carcass, noting the unpleasantness of dealing with it and questioning how long it would take to decay. Responses highlighted that decomposition could take weeks to months, depending on environmental factors like temperature and insect activity. Suggestions included burying the carcass, using lime to hasten decay, or even incinerating it, though the latter raised concerns about safety and legality. The discussion also touched on the broader issue of deer health in the area, with one user mentioning they contacted wildlife authorities but received little assistance. Humor and anecdotes about past experiences with dead animals and decay added levity to the conversation, while practical advice focused on managing the situation effectively without causing further issues. Ultimately, the user decided to cover the deer with compost, indicating a preference for a natural approach to decomposition.
  • #51
Ivan Seeking said:
I called the Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife in case they are interested in tracking the spread of the disease, but they said this is everywhere and I'm on my own.
I knew it -- It's a larger problem than just this one dead deer! (I called once to have a rattle snake removed from my front porch, and the wildlife folks were there about an hour latter--pretty good, huh?) But apparently there would be more concern about diseased deer all over the place if it was in connection to an oil spill. Well now I know I could use my cat for a reflector in Oregon and probably get away with it... :smile:
 
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  • #52
SOS2008 said:
I knew it -- It's a larger problem than just this one dead deer! (I called once to have a rattle snake removed from my front porch, and the wildlife folks were there about an hour latter--pretty good, huh?) But apparently there would be more concern about diseased deer all over the place if it was in connection to an oil spill. Well now I know I could use my cat for a reflector in Oregon and probably get away with it... :smile:
Ivan, perhaps if you pour oil around the deer and send a photo into the paper it would get some action, of course then your property would make the front page with an arrow pointing to the dear, and you would be overrun with environmentalists and sickos, ok...nevermind.

SOS, we may have to add you into the PF sisterhood, you crack me up. Ever traveled in a supersonic RV? If not, sound like something you'd like to do while dressed as a nun, toting a rifle, and drinking green apple martinis? :biggrin:
 
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  • #53
Evo said:
SOS, we may have to add you into the PF sisterhood, you crack me up. Ever traveled in a supersonic RV? If not, sound like something you'd like to do while dressed as a nun, toting a rifle, and drinking green apple martinis? :biggrin:
I'd love that! :biggrin: But I should let you know...the last time I was drinking green apple martinis I started selling tickets to the guys in the valet line to be able to pinch my girlfriend's a**.
 
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  • #54
SOS2008 said:
I'd love that! :biggrin: But I should let you know...the last time I was drinking green apple martinis I started selling tickets to the guys in the valet line to be able to pinch my girlfriend' a**.

Yep, she definitely qualifies for the PF sisterhood! :smile:
 
  • #55
A more serious suggetion- have you considered burning the carcass?
 
  • #56
matthyaouw said:
A more serious suggetion- have you considered burning the carcass?
I would think you need a permit to set fire to something as big as a carcass.
 
  • #57
arildno said:
I would think you need a permit to set fire to something as big as a carcass.

And probably not the wisest idea when living in the midst of trees and other combustible forest litter after a prolonged dry spell, or else the news will have an arrow pointing to Ivan's property that says, "Uncontrolled Forest Fire Started Here," in a split screen view with Ivan's mug shot. :rolleyes:
 
  • #58
Moonbear said:
And probably not the wisest idea when living in the midst of trees and other combustible forest litter after a prolonged dry spell, or else the news will have an arrow pointing to Ivan's property that says, "Uncontrolled Forest Fire Started Here," in a split screen view with Ivan's mug shot. :rolleyes:
You're right; his extra foot won't help him at all then.
 
  • #59
Bladibla said:
Couldn't you just go to a fishing place, get some 'bait' live maggots, and leave them on the deer?
There may not be parallel universes, but there definitely are parallel threads. In an earlier thread someone mentioned people eating maggots (mmmm maggot munchies), and of course how these are used in medicine. And lo and behold, this is in the news today, entitled "Maggots...coming to a hospital near you":
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7229059/ - I wasn't sure where to post this...maybe in the Strange Things thread...?
 
  • #60
As for burning, when we build a burn pile around here it's usually about the size of a car. We have about two wooded acres and another three that are pasture. As long as the county allows burns on any given day, we can build as large of a fire as we like...up to the size of a house! God help you if it gets out of control.

It seems that I discovered the body too late. It's under a tree and I'm not about to try to drag it to a clear spot. We've decided that our compost pile goes on top of the dead deer now. The old growth tree will love the attention.

Funny but I never expected this thread to make it past a few posts. I guess that a rotting deer carcass is much more interesting than I ever imagined. :biggrin:
 
  • #61
SOS2008 said:
I'd love that! :biggrin: But I should let you know...the last time I was drinking green apple martinis I started selling tickets to the guys in the valet line to be able to pinch my girlfriend's a**.
Any tickets left? It's been a slow year. :devil:
 
  • #62
Danger said:
Any tickets left? It's been a slow year. :devil:
I use to be the Account Manager for our Canadian clients (at a company I use to work for) so traveled there all the time. Alberta is beautiful...but I can't imagine the havoc you would wreak in the Valley of the Sun (i.e. scantily-clad females). But then again, you may be too lazy to keep pace...aye? :-p
 
  • #63
I don't think Danger and tribdog should be allowed in the same state...just something tells me they'd get along way too well. :smile:
 
  • #64
SOS2008 said:
I use to be the Account Manager for our Canadian clients (at a company I use to work for) so traveled there all the time. Alberta is beautiful...but I can't imagine the havoc you would wreak in the Valley of the Sun (i.e. scantily-clad females). But then again, you may be too lazy to keep pace...aye? :-p
Patience and ingenuity prevail. One does have to develop new techniques when one must get through half a dozen layers of clothing and a heated bra without waking her up.
I'm not really lazy... I'm a connoisseur of inertia*. Arthritis and emphyzema have slowed me a tad, but my adrenal gland still works. For a very short but critical distance, I can probably run faster horny than you can scared.

*copyright by Bob Barnes ("The Better Half" comic strip sometime in the late 60's.) -- any joke worth laughing at is worth stealing
 
  • #65
Danger said:
One does have to develop new techniques when one must get through half a dozen layers of clothing and a heated bra ...

Heated bra? Did you just make that up, or does such a thing really exist? If it really exists, this sounds like something I really NEED to have! :biggrin: (I'm always cold, and a heated bra sounds like a much more pleasant way to deal with the, um, side effects of that than a padded bra, not to mention I might not be quite so cold then...heck, it might even mean one less layer of clothing is required in winter. :approve:)
 
  • #66
Moonbear said:
Heated bra? Did you just make that up, or does such a thing really exist?
It doesn't yet, but I think I feel a patent coming on. There are heated socks and mitts, though.
You could save yourself a lot of dressing and undressing if you just go for saline implants and have immersion heaters installed at the same time. Your own personal built-in hot water bottles. :approve:
 
  • #67
Moonbear said:
(I'm always cold, and a heated bra sounds like a much more pleasant way to deal with the, um, side effects of that than a padded bra)
That's about the only advantage I find in this climate. I just keep my safety glasses on at all times and enjoy the view.
 
  • #68
Darn, I thought this thread was going to be about how long one can repeatedly apply the rot operator (curl). :frown:
 
  • #69
Sorry to cross you like that.
 
  • #70
hypermorphism said:
Darn, I thought this thread was going to be about how long one can repeatedly apply the rot operator (curl). :frown:
Say what? :confused:
 
  • #71
Ivan Seeking said:
Sorry to cross you like that.
Dot That... or do I diverge from the topic?
 
  • #72
I don't know. My head is either spinning or exploding but I'm not sure which.
 
  • #73
For what it's worth, we had one a few years ago (no, not in Brooklyn), & it only took about 4-5 weeks til it was about 90% gone. The racoons, birds & eventually maggots did a pretty good job. By 2 months there were just bones & tufts of fur.
 
  • #74
So how's the old dear doing? It's been almost a month.
 
  • #75
matthyaouw said:
So how's the old dear doing? It's been almost a month.
It was nicely dead, until now. :-p
 
  • #76
Danger said:
It was nicely dead, until now. :-p
I wonder how long this thread takes to rot ? :rolleyes:
 
  • #77
PF Deer Rot Update: :biggrin:

Things got a little stiff but a bag of lime and a cube of cedar did the trick. I forget who suggested it but I think burning the thing right away would have been the best option.

Also, luckily, the two deer living on the property seem to be healthy.
 

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