New Members Dahlia Posted February 1, 2020 New Members Posted February 1, 2020 I live in the Northeast of the USA. I found this bone out in the forest yesterday and I’m having trouble identifying it due to its size. As shown in the photos, the bone looks very scratched up, probably chewed on, and both joints on each end have been snapped off. The bone was cracked down the middle, then fell off my counter which split it in half. I don’t have a metric ruler, but 12 inches is about 30 centimeters. If it had the joints I think it would be closer to 15 inches, or 38 centimeters. I was thinking it was a white tail deer tibia or possibly a femur (I was leaning more towards tibia due to the curvature) but everything I saw said that deer tibias and femurs aren’t more than 10-11 inches even with the joints. I know it’s pretty broken up, but guesses from anyone?? Thanks! (Can’t upload all the photos due to file size so I will comment with more)
Micah Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 Definitely not a fossil, beyond that it deer seems most likely along with tibia.
jpc Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 and the rodents have gnawed it all to heck. That is cool.
New Members Dahlia Posted February 1, 2020 Author New Members Posted February 1, 2020 42 minutes ago, Micah said: Definitely not a fossil, beyond that it deer seems most likely along with tibia. The measurements just don’t match up with deer :/
New Members Dahlia Posted February 1, 2020 Author New Members Posted February 1, 2020 34 minutes ago, Rockwood said: Moose No moose in my area, unfortunately
New Members Dahlia Posted February 1, 2020 Author New Members Posted February 1, 2020 8 minutes ago, jpc said: and the rodents have gnawed it all to heck. That is cool. There are mice around, but you think mice could crack the bone down the middle and gnaw off each joint? Was thinking at least a coyote gnawing on it
jpc Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 The gnawing I see is all rodents. The split is simply weathering. freeze/thaw... wet/dry, etc.
Rockwood Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 19 minutes ago, Dahlia said: No moose in my area, unfortunately Of course not it's dead now. But seriously, those things live at least close to there now, and they can cover a lot of ground. In collared studies they have been found to wander many miles.
Mahnmut Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 Moose-eating mice, that is somehow scary. Try to learn something about everything and everything about something Thomas Henry Huxley
caldigger Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 18 minutes ago, Mahnmut said: Moose-eating mice, that is somehow scary. That's better than a carnivorous moose!
Mark Kmiecik Posted February 1, 2020 Posted February 1, 2020 3 hours ago, Mahnmut said: Moose-eating mice, that is somehow scary. Metal-munching moon mice are even scarier. Google them if you're confused. Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them!
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