10ofRods
Verified Anthropologist
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- Jun 27, 2019
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Hmmm... around the world, scavenging birds are often used to locate bodies for exactly this reason. A large number in one place is a sign that something has died at that location.
if there had been lots of vultures scavenging at Anza-Borrego, you'd think somebody might have noticed and gone to see what it was. But apparently not.
It's almost a daily occurrence - in fact I see vultures circling pretty frequently, as I live near one of SoCal's "rivers" (it is actually running right now but often just a trickle). Coyotes kill family pets frequently and vultures are the first to assemble after the coyotes are done. Occasionally, someone does go looking for a missing cow or sheep, though - but not in Anza Borrego. There are carcasses of wild sheep for sure. Most people would assume that's what it was.
This was quite a way from the main road, and I don't think that the missing persons case was well-publicized in SD County (until they found JRF's. body)
Even if someone had noticed, it was 115-117 in the shade and only the foolhardy would risk their life to try and find the source of the vulture food, IMO.
I would never encourage someone to take even a 15-20 minute walk in those temps (120-121 in the sun? Maybe higher? Certainly was *no* shade in the Harper Flat/Harper Canyon/Pinyon Wash region - and one would need to really plan the hike well (let's say they went from the northern parking areas) - it would still have taken an hour or two to get to the bodies.
Since most vulture scavenging is distributed over land with no paths or roads, and very few non-tourists go to the area at all, it would very unlikely for anyone to 1) notice it and 2) think 'Oh, must be a human!"