Slightly morbid question...

[Amrapaali]

...but why do we never see dead birds or even squirrels? Not roadkill. I'm talking about animals dying naturally of old age and such.

Do they creep off to some private sunlit glade and breathe their last? Is there an animal Dignitas down the bottom of my garden somewhere?

I wouldn't think many would die naturally of old age - by the time they are old enough to be slowing down, they'll be picked off by a predator who will then eat them.

My rabbit hid away when the end was near maybe they do something similar.

I saw what looked like a naturally expired squirrel in some undergrowth. It surprised me because I'd never seen one before.

I’ve seen hedgehogs dead without any obvious injuries

they get eaten.

One in my garden and a few in the park (the ones in the park at the same time - so perhaps eaten something poisonous rather than natural causes). Have also had a dead squirrel in the garden

Cats

Crows and the like eat them....

I found a dying wood pigeon whilst out walking in the countryside.

I've seen dead crows on a few occasions when walking through the nearby rookery. Also, lots of dead finches last year due to that finch disease (some sort of parasite). No other deceased healthy birds/beasts though! I agree that they must get hoovered up by scavengers.

I've seen both, we go on a lot of woodland walks and have buried squirrels before now.

We live close to fields and always get rabbit visitors. I keep seeing an ancient one with patchy fur and gummy eyes. I swear evwry winter might finish it off and brace myself to find it dead in the hedges. But it has come back the last 3 years or so!!

Sad enough seeing dead animals but to witness a dying wood pigeon- distressing!

You haven't lived in a town until you see a dying rat being fought over by two massive seagulls. (not envy)

Gulls, foxes and crows take care of alot of it. But if they are feeling ill, they do hide away.

I think natures scavengers take care of a lot of it. My cat is a bit of a big game hunter and brings back rabbits, moles and weasels which he arranges at the back door to show me. They never hang about long, I think a fox comes and hoovers them up. I've seen a deer carcass almost picked clean when out walking the dog too.

@Timeforabiscuit

You haven't lived in a town until you see a dying rat being fought over by two massive seagulls. (not envy)

Gulls, foxes and crows take care of alot of it. But if they are feeling ill, they do hide away.

I empathise Time I've been in the vicinity of a few gulls. Not an enjoyable experience. They are the only creatures who scream and squabble WHILE eating 🤦‍♀️

I saw one scream at a discarded sandwich. Stunning their prey perhaps?