Bones found under house

[decay]

Hi,

I found some bones buried under my house amongst buried burnt wood. Which is unusual so I dropped them into the police as the size was too big to be a cat/rat or other smaller animal. Then my cat dragged out the attached vertebrae. I have checked pictures and I don't think they are human but I can't find animal ones that look similar. It would be nice if someone could verify what they might be? If you are looking for guidance, think of an animal that might choose to eat a whole lot of charcoled wood, then burry itself under a house and die.

Thankyou in advance.

[plasmodesmata11]

I am by no means an expert, but I want to say raccoon. Here's a picture: http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.94217165.jpg

[decay]

Thanks for the reply and the possible option plasmodesmata11.

However we don't have racoons here in Australia. I have tried similar animals that we have such as a Possum, but there are no similarities in the vertebrae. Also the other bones were too big.

I am thinking large Dog or Sheep/lamb.

Sheep would make more sense as it opens up the possibility of lamb/sheep on the spit BBQ, with the bones given to a dog/cat, who took them under the house. Or even the former owner inexplicably burnt his dead dog and burried it under the house, which makes no sense but he was there until 98 years old.

Of course if anyone can categorically rule out Dog or Sheep I would be happy to hear it. And then I can stress about something else.

[DougB]

Since you are in Australia, have you considered kangaroo or wallaby?

DougB