That turkey vultures, unlike almost all other birds, have an incredible sense of smell and can smell carrion for up to a mile away. I learned that today. Fascinating.

Never knew that.

I've been told the turkey vultures is one of the best table fare birds there is. Makes you wonder how they got there name doesn't it
Hay Eric I've been lurking on your guys Idaho chat congratulations on the marten catch.

Grizzley bear can to.

Really? I learned two things today.

Dirtydog, thank you I'm having it tanned as it's my first. Very cool critters

Its the reason natural gas smells like it doez. If there is a leak they can look for birds in the area.

I caught one in a cage last February. I had baited it with fermented egg 3 weeks earlier and caught a few skunks as well in that cage. 15"x14"
Iv seen where ravens dug at Dholes through the snow.

Ravens have a great sense of smell,a lot of birds do.Look at a birds skull and you can tell the ones with a good sense of smell from all the olfactory openings (and size) behind the beak.

I still know that.
I think Ravens have a pretty good sense of smell also.

Learned that lesson the hard way on a dirt hole with slightly tainted road killed rabbit, lol. Easy to release though.

Ravens can find a tainted beaver carcass under a canopy closure of 100% with the carcass hidden. Don't ask me how I know this.

The mammal with the best sense of smell going by scientist is the bear.

^^^^^
That doesn't surprise me at all. They have an amazing nose.

Yeah we all know bears and canines have great senses of smell. Not arguing that. Just found the fact that turkey vultures can smell carrion over a mile away interesting.

Birds in general are an interesting bunch, most of them are about as stupid as you can get. However, birds like ravens are almost uncanny in the intelligence that they display.
It's no wonder that some native Alaskans think that ravens are their deceased ancestors.
I once witnessed about 20 ravens figure out how to remove a pallet that was covering a few frozen beaver carcasses.

It wouldn't surprise me that vultures are pretty intelligent too. I just haven't observed them like I have ravens.

I did know that Wild Idaho
Thanks for the reminder

Oh yes. Fun to watch while sitting in a deer stand. I used to count in excess of 50 circling.

I understand they go to Hinckley OH.

[quote=charles]Oh yes. Fun to watch while sitting in a deer stand. I used to count in excess of 50 circling.



Maybe ya should move around a little bit while on stand.
Sorry, it's an old joke

Wait until the wild hogs move into your country.

The wild pig's sense of smell is well developed (much better than both their eyesight and hearing) and they rely strongly on it to detect danger and search out food. They are capable of sensing some odors 5-7 miles away and may be able to detect odors as much as 25 feet underground!

Or take a shower once in awhile.