# ID this partial mandible?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-partial-mandible/933656>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 24, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-partial-mandible/933656 "2021-02-24T17:35:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-partial-mandible/933656/1 "2021-02-24T17:35:49Z")

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I was walking with our eldest dog, Ella the other day. I ran over to see what she was chewing and I saw a section of mandible, 6-8 inches in length. Looks like molars are present.

I’m guessing deer. Anyone else?  
[![](https://i.imgur.com/ZXmjt32.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/ZXmjt32.jpg)

I picked it up and tossed it into the creek. Poked around looking for more, but all I found was snow.

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**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-partial-mandible/933656/2 "2021-02-24T18:22:57Z")

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I would say that it is a deer jaw bone, but only part of one. Those look like deer teeth but there is a long front part that has no teeth and is broken off, and also the rear hinges are gone. It is just part of a deer jaw.

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-partial-mandible/933656/3 "2021-02-24T20:49:01Z")

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Deer jaw.  
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qyQx3GXbuBk/maxresdefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qyQx3GXbuBk/maxresdefault.jpg)  
From what I can see of the tooth wear, a fairly young one too.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-partial-mandible/933656/4 "2021-02-24T21:15:25Z")

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It’s sad. I wonder if a predator got it or a scavenger feasted.