[Convenient New Feature: ARCHIVE of All Articles]
UNLUCKY STUCKIE
There are some things loggers expect to come across when cutting down trees. Birds’ nests and kites caught in the branches seem like a given – a mummified dog in the center of a tree, however, is never expected.
But that is exactly what a team of loggers with the Georgia Kraft Paper Corp. found while cutting down a tree in the 1980s.
They were working in a grove of chestnut oaks in southern Georgia when they found a most unusual sight.
After cutting off the top of the tree and loading it onto a truck for transport, a member of the team happened to look into the hollow trunk. Inside, he found the perfectly mummified remains of a dog, looking back at him, its teeth still bared in its fight for survival.
Experts who studied the carcass concluded that the animal was most likely a hunting dog from the 1960s, that had chased something such as a squirrel into a hole at the base of the tree and up to the center of the hollow tree.
The higher the dog got, however, the narrower the tree became. From the position of the dog’s paws, experts believe that it continued to climb until it effectively wedged itself in. Unable to turn around and escape, the dog eventually died.
Normally, a dog that has died in the wild would succumb to decay or be eaten by other animals. However, since this dog died inside a tree, it was impossible for predators to reach it, and because of its distance up the tree, its body probably could not even be located by smell.
Additionally, the type of tree that the dog was stuck in was ideal to assist in a natural mummification process. Chestnut oaks contain tannins, which are used in taxidermy and leather making to prevent animal skins from decaying. The natural tannins inside the tree apparently had that same effect on the dog.
The dry environment inside the trunk also provided shelter from the elements and absorbed moisture from the carcass.
The overall effect was the natural dog mummy found inside the chestnut oak.
The loggers decided to take him to a museum, to show the rare sight to the world.
The dog, now appropriately called “Stuckie,” resides at the Southern Forest World museum in Waycross, Georgia, still encased in his woody tomb and on display for the world to see.
Caution: If you do decide to take the kids to see “Unlucky Stuckie,” be prepared for some sleepless nights. Stuckie has “bad dreams” written all over him!
SOURCE: allthatsinteresting.com
SHARE THE GOOD ONES!
LEARNING TOOLS
English questions about this article or about English in general?
Ask Teacher Jack at: asktjack1@gmail.com
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PAGES:
ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AT
Offbeat English
https://linggle-offbeatenglish.blogspot.com/