CSI...In My Backyard (-ish Area), and The Rule of Threes

My year has started out with interesting events.  

WARNING!  GRUESOME PICTURES ALERT!!!

Winston and I take long walks several times a day.  I like a little variety, and I have several routes we can take.  

On January 1st, we were about finished with a walk when we came upon something up near a tree.  My son came out to investigate with me after I returned home and commented that I saw a dead cat in the woods.  My daughter alerted me that our neighbors were missing their cat.  Not a good way to start the year.  I am glad I could offer closure to my neighbors, but not happy to find their cat like this!  Doing a little CSI it was determined that poor Dexter's ticker probably just gave out.  No apparent trauma, nothing fishy about this death.   Still, as a cat lover, very hard to observe this.  

A few days after I found Dexter, I convinced my daughter to take a walk with Winston and me.  As I looked out on the frozen lake, at the mid-point of our walk, I noticed what looked like a dead deer!  CALL THE GANG OF CSI!!!  My daughter kindly sent a picture via her cell phone to her brother who responded, "cool".  This death was sort of fascinating to investigate.  We spent a long time pondering the "I bet's..." of the situation.  My daughter was sure something attacked the deer; I do not share her opinion.  

First of all, I do think it's possible that a dog or dogs attacked the deer, but more likely my guess is that the embankment was very steep in this area.  I am sure something spooked this deer.  I suspect she fell down the slope hitting her side on a sharp, broken tree stump.  The "crime scene" looks like she tried to stand and walk a few times, but probably had a gash and bled out.  There weren't many footprints around the body although something was definitely feasting on this carcass after the fact.  Vultures?  Fox?  I don't think a fox is big enough to attack a deer.  Maybe she was shot.  I live nearby so I hope not, but one never really knows without doing a full autopsy.  I do not think it was a coyote or wolf that got her.  For one thing, we still have that three legged deer (Tripod) and that maim-legged deer (Stumpy or Hobbs) surviving.  (Yes, I have named them and I talk to them too when I see them in the woods.)  Secondly, no foot prints or other evidence that these types of hunters are around.  I even went back on day two and saw a much more snacked on carcass.  Still, only little footprints, like those belonging to a fox surrounded the scene.  
On day two of the dead deer Winston and I wandered onto the ice.  I have pictures from that day, but I don't think anyone wants to see those.  Winston was a little disappointed that I wouldn't let him snack on a few rib bones!  

When my daughter and I returned home from our walk on day one she told me she was not going to take any other walks with me since I keep finding dead things.  She also noted that the dead things I am finding are getting bigger; rule of threes you know too.  She has a theory of what I'll find next.  Consequently, I am NOT walking Winston in the retirement village nearby!  :)