One day on my regular lunchtime walk I saw a dead badger at the side of the road, attracting a cloud of flies. This is what happened to it over the next few days.
The site, Buncefield Lane in Hemel Hempstead. The badger is in the verge to the right, around the middle of the picture.
2011-06-01. First sighting and still obviously the complete animal complete with striped face. Flies are buzzing all over, and presumably laying their eggs. They can be seen clearly on the face.
2011-06-06, 5 days on. All of the hair has dropped off and is lying in a mat around the body, which is now a much smaller-looking black carcase. Maggots can be seen eating away, and there is already a hole right through into the chest.
2011-06-07, 6 days on. Intense maggot dining on one of the back legs. Bones showing through already.
2011-06-10, 9 days on. The maggots have mostly gone, only a few are visible on the outside.
2011-06-10, the same day. The powerful-looking teeth.
2011-06-12, 12 days on. The bones are becoming more visible. The body has become fragmented. Although it was well off the road, cars sometimes run off the edge to pass and it may have been run over again.
2011-06-15, 14 days on. The jaw bones are completely clean.
2011-06-15, the same day. By now it was becoming more difficult to find the spot.
2011-06-22, 21 days on. By now all that is left is hair and bones.
2011-07-05, 34 days on. This is the last photo I took. The bones are being scattered.
©2012 nib -
2012-03-17 -> 2012-03-17