Uncovering Forensic Taphonomic Agents: Animal Scavenging in the European Context

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In forensic cases of exposed human bodies, vertebrate animals frequently pose challenges concerning remains recovery, identification, and the interpretation of circumstances of death. For instance, they can remove body parts, destroy skeletal features, and create “pseudo-lesions” that complicate trauma analysis. With this review, we highlight vertebrate scavengers in Europe that are of forensic relevance, including their typical behaviour and their inflicted lesions on bones and soft tissues. Here, we support forensic practitioners in recognising animal activity at the site of discovery and in interpreting the circumstances of death. Our review serves as a guide for the examination of animal-altered human remains and their found state by providing ecological backgrounds on various vertebrate species. In addition, this study provides an overview of the current state of research in the field of animal scavenging in forensics. ABSTRACT: Animal scavenging by vertebrates can significantly alter human bodies and their deposition site. For instance, vertebrate animals can cause postmortem modification to a body, alter perimortem trauma, influence decomposition rates, disarticulate and scatter body parts or evidence, and affect the identification of the deceased. Animal scavenging is a relatively common occurrence in forensic investigations. Even so, studies on the subject are scattered and rare, with most focussing on geographical areas outside of Europe. For that reason, we intend to collate the literature to provide an account of forensically relevant vertebrate scavengers in Europe, their impacts on human remains, and their implications for forensic investigations. Here, we provide an overview of forensic aspects where the knowledge of animal scavenging is crucial, as well as an account of potential scavengers of human remains in Europe and their typical alterations to soft tissue and, in particular, to bones. In addition, we are the first to provide a guide for forensic practitioners to identify the presence of vertebrate scavenging and subsequently inform outdoor search strategies for affected human remains.