This year, I’ve allowed Galena Creek to become overgrown, partly because I wanted to see what would happen with no human intervention, and partly because I’ve been concentrating on other things around here. Recently I took my trusty brush cutter down to clear a path thru the wildflower meadow to the Creek, and found this:

I’m not sure if these are the remains of a coyote or a domesticated dog. Nor do I know how it expired or why it chose the Creek for its expiration. My knowledge of animal forensics is practically non-existent, and a cursory investigation on the web has been of little help, though I did find that a skeleton like this sells for as much as 500 bucks.

I plan to call Virginia Tech to see if they’re interested in retrieving the skeleton, which I pray they are, because the prospect of doing it myself is not something to which I look forward. The smell alone is a stomach churner, and the remaining viscera guarantees a condition known as “up-chucking”. The last two photos are close-ups of the skull and hind paw. If any of you are sure of what this is, let me know.