Why are there entrails on my porch?

December 4, 2014 4:47 PM

When I picked up my mail this morning I found this next to my mailbox. Are these entrails on my porch?

I don't know if anyone can tell from the picture, but are these the entrails of some animal? Or feces with entrails in them? It is attracting flies so it's not some sort of prank plastic guts.

I'm also interested whether this was likely a work of a human or animal. I have no reason to suspect any humans, but has anyone seen this sort of thing for your usual assortment of crows, squirrels, cats, and dogs that typically hang out in my non-wooded neighborhood in Oakland, CA? I have noticed crows picking up decorative rocks from some nearby potted plants--should they be my primary suspects? Has anyone else seen anything like this?

posted by ...tm... to Grab Bag (19 answers total)

It looks like entrails to me. My cat has left similar things, if that's rat sized. (If it's possum- I don't know what leaves possum entrails around. Maybe a raccoon?)
posted by small_ruminant at 4:50 PM on December 4, 2014

We had coyotes in my big city, non-wooded neighbourhood. People were advised to keep their cats indoors because coyotes would go after them. Occasionally I'd find entrails on the sidewalk and my guess was the coyotes.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:10 PM on December 4, 2014 [1 favorite]

We had a cat who did that all the time. My mom's theory was that the cat was kindly sharing a delicacy with us. I'd chalk it up to an animal. Not a nice way to wake up, though!
posted by chocotaco at 5:27 PM on December 4, 2014

Yep, those are totally guts. I've seen "presents" like that being left by foxes in a suburban environment.
posted by ZaphodB at 5:29 PM on December 4, 2014 [1 favorite]

It's the whole animal, including its entrails (unless I'm looking at it wrong somehow?) There's a rodenty foot and tail on the left and an ear and head at the right.
posted by frobozz at 5:30 PM on December 4, 2014 [4 favorites]

I agree it's most of a rodent, is it the size of a rat? It could also be from a large bird of prey puking it up or any other wild animal or domestic cats. My parents' cats bring in half-bodies of baby bunnies.. soo.. yeah.
posted by Crystalinne at 6:09 PM on December 4, 2014

Looks like an inside out vole. Be lucky it's only on your porch, I've found them on my pillow.

Thanks dog.
posted by fshgrl at 6:43 PM on December 4, 2014 [3 favorites]

Ps have short, cut off looking tails and are bigger than mice. I would judge they are easier to catch by the relative numbers I've seen caught.
posted by fshgrl at 6:44 PM on December 4, 2014

Response by poster: Thanks! All good answers, and reassuring. I don't have a cat, and the seemingly personal nature of it left on the small ledge by my mailbox freaked me out a bit. It's in the green bin now.
posted by ...tm... at 6:57 PM on December 4, 2014

Did you do something nice for a cat?

I never realized how weird a dead mole could look until I unintentionally befriended my neighboring cats by annihilating the coyotes around here. It had to be done, the no climb fencing was not as advertised. I don't know how the surviving cats knew it was me, but the tributes started about then.

Voles, Moles, Rats, Mice, opened for you so that you can get the best parts.

I had to tell a bunch of guests to look at the second or third step before they stepped down.

Makes me want to brush their teeth, but I refrain. I don't get cats. This is a present. Merry Xmas from some cat.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 7:28 PM on December 4, 2014 [12 favorites]

You have a secret admirer and the secret is out: it's a cat.
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:03 PM on December 4, 2014 [12 favorites]

Agreed, it's the whole animal with entrails falling out, and I think it may have been a shrew. Right size, shape, color. Though yeah, vole could be likely too.

Cats are very intentional about giving you things and tend to leave them in spots like that where you're sure to find them.
posted by Miko at 8:53 PM on December 4, 2014

My cat would totally do this for a favourite neighbour...

I'm Sorry...ew.
posted by jrobin276 at 9:19 PM on December 4, 2014 [1 favorite]

Yeah, definitely left by a cat.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:26 AM on December 5, 2014

+1 for "left behind by a cat". Our cats do this too all the time. It is a token of appreciation, I think (as opposed to "Let this be a warning"). So extra cuddle time with some neigborhood cat might be in order.
posted by hz37 at 2:45 AM on December 5, 2014

A friend of mine's Mum's cat would sneak into her bedroom in the night and leave things like this on the pillow next to her. You know, as a yummy morning snack present...
posted by prentiz at 5:30 AM on December 5, 2014

I'll go one further... those dark bits are likely kidneys and liver bits, which are super-high-nutrition parts, which makes them more desirable than even meat (because they're essentially vitamin-enriched meat).

No predator would leave them behind accidentally. Those are the things you give a sick packmate, a pre-adolescent packmate, or a packmate you want to impress.

It's definitely a gift.
posted by IAmBroom at 12:15 PM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Totally gifted guts. Once, on my *birthday* one of the local strays that I fed left an eviscerated squirrel on my back steps. The good lad was surely thanking me!
posted by pointystick at 2:05 PM on December 5, 2014

I was once gifted, in the bed where I was sleeping at the time, both a mouse AND a rat. (Visiting the family farm for a family reunion). My aunt told me I must have really impressed the cat who gave me both.

And as for an "ick" factor - I had a much loved cat who was a terrible killer. He once brought me a chipmunk, and proceeded to eat it, entirely. He also performed the same feat with a squirrel - took him all day, but in the end all that was left was the tail and a tendon-connected rear leg.
posted by annieb at 7:15 PM on December 5, 2014