Mercedes Martinez- Forensic Entomology – “Oh Deer…” – The Ballad of Deer 82/37

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7/2/19 – I woke up this morning just like any other day. I went through my morning routine as usual – I did everything except eat breakfast. I got to Headquarters at 9:30 am, which was about a 1 mile walk. After being debriefed by Cristina, the wonderful woman who helps run the ranch, we hopped into her Jeep along with another lovely lady named Susan, who also runs the ranch. We set out for highway 82, mile marker 37: Cristina had gotten an email about a roadkill deer that had been hit yesterday. Our mission was to collect maggots and grubs, as well as beetles, that are found on the carcass and raise them into maturity.

The deer in question. Its head is missing due to someone cutting it off, probably so that they can taxidermy it. It has been dubbed ‘Deer 82/37’

Although the deer had only been out for a day and a half tops, the vultures had already gotten to it

There were maggots and grubs everywhere, as well as carrion-eating beetles and flies. By identifying what species of fly and beetle are on the carcass, as well as what stage the premature insects were in at the time of the collection (we need to raise them in order to measure them after they mature, and how long a fly or beetle is is a way to tell how old they are) we can get a time of death, and how long the body had been in the area. These two aspects are crucial to the forensic world, as it can help lawmen and women piece together the nature of the death.

Most on scene forensic scientists rub tea tree oil on their wrists. Gee, I wonder why..

The smell was absolutely putrid. The organs, blood, and feces had been baking in the Arizona sun for hours, and had coagulated into a black, worm-infested soup. But a job had to be done. And I was the only one with gloves.

I had to take a breather 3 times while collecting our wormy friends. Even when holding my breath, I couldn’t escape the all encompassing stink. Cristina, Susan, and I carried the stench of death all the way back to HQ.

I had once thought B.O. was the worse smell to ever grace this earth. I was once younger.

The vials

The beetles will be frozen, pinned, and photographed in order to properly identify their species (the photos will be sent to a professional beetle classifier- aka, an entomologist)

I volunteered to babysit our friends here. I hope my roommates don’t mind…

They need to be kept moist, as insects prefer this type of environment, especially immature, dead-tissue eating ones. They will be fed raw meat.

The young insects should soon be in pupation.

Tomorrow begins my personal experiment with squirrels. I will be testing the speed of decomposition when the carcass is not exposed to insects as opposed to one that is. Both carcasses will be exposed to the natural elements.

Maybe they won’t utterly reek?

I have my doubts

All jokes aside, I am positively ecstatic about my own experiment and raising the insects. This will most definitely be two of the highlights of my summer!