Additional Bird Nesting Records and Egg Masses for the Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Abstract

neck, shoulder, and ribs; a broken right shoulder and a missing right foreleg; 70% of an upper canine recently broken off; and similar punctures in the muscle on the neck, right shoulder, and ribs. We did not find the missing foreleg and do not know how it was detached. Spacing between 3 apparent sets of bites were 9, 11, and 12 mm. We believe each M. americana was killed by a conspecific based on the internal injuries and the spacing of the punctures in the muscle. The distance between the tips of the 2 upper canines on 9 M. americana skulls averaged 11 mm (SD = 0.68, range = 1012 mm). The spacing of the punctures on the carcasses was too narrow for a larger predator. Canine spacing on 4 coyote (Canis latrans) skulls averaged 28 mm (SD = 1.06, range = 26-28 mm) and on 3 bobcat (Lynx rufus) skulls averaged 24 mm (SD = 2.34, range = 22-27 mm). Fishers (Martes pennanti) and foxes are not present in our study area. Tn addition, neither carcass had been eaten or cached. Although this phenomenon is rarely observed, it may be more common than previously thought because 2 of our 8 radio-collared males were killed within a 6-mo period. This mortality may be an important factor affecting M. americana populations in some areas.