The discovery of a bone in the wild can transform a simple hike into an engaging natural mystery, offering a tangible link to the ecosystem’s hidden life. Identifying these skeletal remains is a process of scientific deduction that reveals information about the animal’s species, diet, and behavior. This pursuit requires a methodical approach that prioritizes personal responsibility and the systematic analysis of physical evidence. Identification begins with a careful assessment of the immediate environment and the object itself.
Foundational Safety and Ethical Considerations
Before interacting with any remains, the first priority is protecting personal health, as bones can harbor pathogens like bacteria or fungi, even if they appear clean. It is wise to use gloves and avoid touching any bone that is not completely dry and bleached by the sun, particularly avoiding any remains associated with fresh roadkill or diseased carcasses. Beyond personal safety, an ethical responsibility exists to respect wildlife and the law, which mandates that remains should generally be left in place unless local regulations permit collection.
Federal and state lands often prohibit the removal of any natural objects, including animal remains, a regulation strictly enforced to protect natural resources. If the remains belong to a protected species, such as migratory birds, taking them is illegal under federal law. To respect the site, document the location and condition with photographs before deciding on a course of action, which often means leaving the bone as a natural part of the environment.
Distinguishing Human Bones from Animal Bones
The initial and most important step in identification is determining if the remains are human, which immediately triggers a legal requirement to contact local law enforcement without delay. One telling distinction lies in the overall bone density and structure. Non-human animal bones tend to be heavier and denser with a thicker outer layer, or cortex, an adaptation necessary to support the horizontal posture and weight of a quadruped.
Human bones, by contrast, are generally more porous and slender, reflecting an upright posture and less robust physical demands. Examining the skull provides other strong clues: a human skull is characterized by a large, bulbous cranial vault and a small, relatively flat face. Many animal skulls feature a much smaller braincase, a more pronounced snout, and the foramen magnum, the opening for the spinal cord, positioned toward the rear rather than inferiorly (downward) at the base. If the remains are those of an infant, the small, unfused bones can sometimes be mistaken for those of a small animal, underscoring the need for caution and reporting any remains that cause doubt.
Identifying Key Features for Classification
The next phase involves systematic observation to narrow the classification from a general mammal to a specific family or genus. Begin by assessing the overall structure of the bone, looking for features that indicate the animal’s class, such as the distinctively light and hollow nature of long bones, which immediately suggests a bird. The morphology of the joints and muscle attachment sites also reveals much about the animal’s locomotion and strength.
A broad, paddle-shaped pelvis, for example, is common in creatures built for speed and long strides. The specific shape of the joint ends, or epiphyses, indicates the range of motion. Hinge joints allow movement primarily in one plane for running, while ball-and-socket joints offer the wide mobility characteristic of a predator’s shoulder or hip. Prominent bony ridges and crests on the skull, such as a sagittal crest running along the top, suggest powerful jaw muscles necessary for a strong bite.
Analyzing the dentition, or teeth, provides the most reliable indicator of an animal’s diet and classification. Herbivores, such as deer or cattle, possess large, flat-crowned molars with complex ridges and furrows designed to grind tough plant matter. Carnivores, like wolves or foxes, feature large, conical canines for seizing prey and specialized shearing teeth, known as carnassials, that function like scissors to slice through flesh. Omnivores, including bears and raccoons, display a mixed dentition with less specialized, bumpy molars that can crush and grind a variety of plant and animal material.
Utilizing Resources for Final Identification
Once preliminary observations are complete, verification requires moving from field observation to comparative analysis using external tools and experts. Proper documentation is a foundational step, involving taking high-quality photographs that include a common item like a coin or ruler for scale reference. This scaled image provides the necessary metric data for accurate comparison with known specimens.
Numerous online databases exist that provide comparative osteological information, such as BoneID and OsteoID, offering visual and metric data for many North American species. These digital atlases allow the user to search by bone element or dimension, comparing their find against thousands of images and 3D scans of documented skeletons. For particularly challenging or rare finds, consulting with local specialists, such as university biology departments, natural history museums, or state wildlife agencies, can provide expert confirmation. These resources transition the initial field discovery into a verified scientific data point.