10-13 SS Back to the Dead Horse

ODFW examined a horse found dead in a field. They found evidence that the horse had died of internal blood loss resulting from a single wound caused by a large object that had stabbed into the groin area on the left side of the horse and ruptured a major blood vessel. Scrape marks on the animal's side above the groin wound and elk tracks found at the site suggested that the horse had been gored by a bull elk. The horse had been fed on only by scavenging birds. There was also speculation that the horse may have been killed by wolves so I called British Columbia outfitter and wolf expert Mark Werner to get his opinion: "No, no, no I would never think it was a bull elk; because first of all a bull — they are only aggressive towards another bull that would have the same scent and posturing. No, no — that sounds like wolves." Let it be known that I totally respect Mark's opinion, otherwise I wouldn't have called him. That said, I picked up the Idaho Statesman the other day and read this: Astoria, Oregon: elk are usually more aggressive in the fall when searching for a mate. But what is surprising this year is that more elk are turning that aggression toward people which has led to injuries and property damage." So maybe, ODFW had it right after all.