Look what we found under one of our palo verde trees:
It appears to be the remains of a desert tortoise and it isn’t fresh. Just a couple of weeks before this discovery the peep put down preemergent for weed control and definitely would have seen it if it were there at that time. Kaci and Kali aren’t allowed there without being on a leash. How did the tortoise meet its demise? When? What caused it? How did the remains get here? It is all a big mystery.
kylascott 
Maybe another animal carried it in ~ it is a prehistoric find.
Sweet William The Scot
As reasonable explanation as any. We’re stumped.
Maybe your neighbor is punkin you. I put a goose egg with nest on a neighbors porch once. He went around telling all the neighbors “come see the nest some stupid bird made on this porch”. Sorry about the derogatory bird comment Kismet.
SWTS
SQUAAAAWK!
SQUIRRELS… THAT’s OUR theory and we are sticking to it…
The only squirrels here are the ground squirrels-no tree squirrels. I guess the tree squirrels don’t like cactus (ouch with the thorns).
Poor thing. Perhaps it was just its time? That’s what I’m going to believe.
Have a fabulous day. Scritches to the babies. 🙂
Those tortoises can live a LONG time.
RIP Sweet tortoise. We see them on the street once in a while. The turkey vultures or cars can get to them.
Those tortoises aren’t aggressive and always a victim unless you’re a blade of grass.
We need more information if we are to figure this out. Is it near the street? Could a big bird have a nest in the tree and tossed out the remains of it’s dinner? Is the area fenced? Inquiring minds want to know.
OK,
1) It’s on a private cul de sac.
2) Birds don’t do that, trust me.
3)That area wasn’t fenced in.
I’m thinking coyotes but it isn’t a fresh kill.
You need a Sherlock Holmes hat for this one!
It’s going to take more than a Watson for certain.
I’m just glad it wasn’t YOU!
SQUAAAAWK. That would have been life threatening.
its a puzzle alright,xx Speedy
Darn. You’re British and I thought you’d Sherlock Holmes this for me.
Ranger Speedy on the job xx
Cats….cats always cause problems and mysteries around here…
See what I said to Sammy below.
Hmm…….coyote purrrhaps. On behalf of cats may I plead the case of total innocence though…..we don’t like to have to PEEL our food! (eeeeek)
Hugs, Sammy
Sammy, there aren’t any cats around. You’re cleared. The former neighbor who had one left the door open by mistake and the cat met a coyote. That was the last cat around. Too bad, Kyla loved cats.
I agree… and maybe that tortoise was there for many moons…maybe it’s even pre-historic and your place becomes famous?
What does Helmut think?
he currently sleeps, but I’m sure he thinks that could be the shell of Chris Turtlelumbus the great discoverer…
Whoa…coyotes get blamed for nearly everything that goes wrong in the desert so Sam thought it might be a Chupacabra but then Sam is a bit of a drama doofas… 🙂
I’m more scared of Harland Sanders
You and me both!
Per your earlier comment, Kismut, maybe it was a coyote Mom doing some early spring cleaning. I think coyotes get blamed for everything for a good reason.
About a quarter mile away from our house, a pack of coyotes got over a six foot high block fence and made dinner out of a pit bull.
THAT’S AWFUL!!!!!
OMD….. it’s da Desert Beasty! Hide, hide, hide! Da Deserty Beasty likes to come out at night and prey on turtles and parrots.
Maybe you should set up cameras in your yard so you can become famous as the 1st bird to ever snatch a pic of the Desert Beasty.
Wags,
Ranger
I already did that last Wednesday about a half hour past midnight.
Hope you figure it out!
I probably won’t. Maybe it was the Martians?
Maybe one of Kismet’s relatives dropped it when they flew over.
Aroo to you,
Sully
SQUAAAAWK!
Not Guilty
Are there Ravens (the bird kind) in your area? I know they like tortoise. Mom had desert tortoises and the Ravens always knew when the tortoises were out
Nessa Noodledog
Yeah, we have them. That’s it-blame a bird.
:O