How Vultures Innovate Forensic Science | Lauren Pharr | TEDxLSU

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[Applause] my parents always wanted me to be a

my parents always wanted me to be a

my parents always wanted me to be a doctor but a doctor that studies how

doctor but a doctor that studies how

doctor but a doctor that studies how vultures eat dead things is probably not

vultures eat dead things is probably not

vultures eat dead things is probably not the type of doctor my parents had in

the type of doctor my parents had in

the type of doctor my parents had in mind

mind

mind I study Bulger scavenging behavior and

I study Bulger scavenging behavior and

I study Bulger scavenging behavior and how vultures affect crime scenes I’m

how vultures affect crime scenes I’m

how vultures affect crime scenes I’m here to talk to you about how we take

here to talk to you about how we take

here to talk to you about how we take vultures for granted in forensic science

vultures for granted in forensic science

vultures for granted in forensic science before we do that I want to tell you a

before we do that I want to tell you a

before we do that I want to tell you a story so we’re going to take a trip all

story so we’re going to take a trip all

story so we’re going to take a trip all 1,000 of us it’s May 2014 and we’re

1,000 of us it’s May 2014 and we’re

1,000 of us it’s May 2014 and we’re standing in a park in Nashville

standing in a park in Nashville

standing in a park in Nashville Tennessee because we’ve been at a horse

Tennessee because we’ve been at a horse

Tennessee because we’ve been at a horse race as we wait for the Porta Potty we

race as we wait for the Porta Potty we

race as we wait for the Porta Potty we see two ladies and their Sunday best

see two ladies and their Sunday best

see two ladies and their Sunday best heels pearls and lovely floppy derby

heels pearls and lovely floppy derby

heels pearls and lovely floppy derby hats at any moment we expect them to

hats at any moment we expect them to

hats at any moment we expect them to start talking about their grandma’s

start talking about their grandma’s

start talking about their grandma’s slide China but they don’t instead we

slide China but they don’t instead we

slide China but they don’t instead we hear them say oh look something must be

hear them say oh look something must be

hear them say oh look something must be dead we look up and to the left and see

dead we look up and to the left and see

dead we look up and to the left and see vultures circling round and round it

vultures circling round and round it

vultures circling round and round it occurred to me at this very moment that

occurred to me at this very moment that

occurred to me at this very moment that if these ladies at the Derby are aware

if these ladies at the Derby are aware

if these ladies at the Derby are aware of ultras connection to death then why

of ultras connection to death then why

of ultras connection to death then why aren’t we talking more about these birds

aren’t we talking more about these birds

aren’t we talking more about these birds at crime scenes people know that

at crime scenes people know that

at crime scenes people know that vultures are connected to death but they

vultures are connected to death but they

vultures are connected to death but they don’t really understand how for example

don’t really understand how for example

don’t really understand how for example here’s an email I received from a

here’s an email I received from a

here’s an email I received from a detective in Louisiana Lauren there’s

detective in Louisiana Lauren there’s

detective in Louisiana Lauren there’s been a kidnapping

been a kidnapping

been a kidnapping what buzzards or vultures do we have in

what buzzards or vultures do we have in

what buzzards or vultures do we have in Louisiana before we address the

Louisiana before we address the

Louisiana before we address the kidnapping I’ll first address this

kidnapping I’ll first address this

kidnapping I’ll first address this Buzzard vulture question I get all the

Buzzard vulture question I get all the

Buzzard vulture question I get all the time

time

time buzzards don’t live in the United States

buzzards don’t live in the United States

buzzards don’t live in the United States they are hawks that live in Europe the

they are hawks that live in Europe the

they are hawks that live in Europe the big black birds you see circling in the

big black birds you see circling in the

big black birds you see circling in the sky within the u.s. are vultures the two

sky within the u.s. are vultures the two

sky within the u.s. are vultures the two types of vultures that live in Louisiana

types of vultures that live in Louisiana

types of vultures that live in Louisiana or the turkey vulture and black vulture

or the turkey vulture and black vulture

or the turkey vulture and black vulture to fully understand the role of vultures

to fully understand the role of vultures

to fully understand the role of vultures in forensic science I’ll walk you

in forensic science I’ll walk you

in forensic science I’ll walk you through this forensic case from the

through this forensic case from the

through this forensic case from the email certain things become apparent we

email certain things become apparent we

email certain things become apparent we can assume the detective thinks the

can assume the detective thinks the

can assume the detective thinks the individual is dead

individual is dead

individual is dead and he wants to use the birds to try to

and he wants to use the birds to try to

and he wants to use the birds to try to find the body like the ladies in

find the body like the ladies in

find the body like the ladies in Nashville the detective thinks that

Nashville the detective thinks that

Nashville the detective thinks that vultures circling in the sky will lead

vultures circling in the sky will lead

vultures circling in the sky will lead him to the body it’s not that simple I

him to the body it’s not that simple I

him to the body it’s not that simple I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a vulture

don’t know if you’ve ever seen a vulture

don’t know if you’ve ever seen a vulture up close or spent much time with them

up close or spent much time with them

up close or spent much time with them but they’re huge huge six-foot wingspan

but they’re huge huge six-foot wingspan

but they’re huge huge six-foot wingspan vulture circle in the air because they

vulture circle in the air because they

vulture circle in the air because they are too big to flap their wings and fly

are too big to flap their wings and fly

are too big to flap their wings and fly so they soar they soar in thermals which

so they soar they soar in thermals which

so they soar they soar in thermals which are vortexes or little tornadoes caused

are vortexes or little tornadoes caused

are vortexes or little tornadoes caused by pressure differences in the air the

by pressure differences in the air the

by pressure differences in the air the form throughout the day as the Sun heats

form throughout the day as the Sun heats

form throughout the day as the Sun heats up the ground therefore when you see a

up the ground therefore when you see a

up the ground therefore when you see a circling vulture the bird is usually

circling vulture the bird is usually

circling vulture the bird is usually traveling from point A to B rather than

traveling from point A to B rather than

traveling from point A to B rather than circling above something dead actually

circling above something dead actually

circling above something dead actually if you want to use a vulture to try to

if you want to use a vulture to try to

if you want to use a vulture to try to find a body look for a vulture in a tree

find a body look for a vulture in a tree

find a body look for a vulture in a tree or on a fence post vultures are too big

or on a fence post vultures are too big

or on a fence post vultures are too big and slow to hunt so they have to

and slow to hunt so they have to

and slow to hunt so they have to scavenge in fact vultures are the only

scavenge in fact vultures are the only

scavenge in fact vultures are the only animals in the world that depend upon

animals in the world that depend upon

animals in the world that depend upon death is a food source the turkey

death is a food source the turkey

death is a food source the turkey vultures that you see here is super cool

vultures that you see here is super cool

vultures that you see here is super cool because it’s one of the few bird species

because it’s one of the few bird species

because it’s one of the few bird species that can actually smell it hones in on

that can actually smell it hones in on

that can actually smell it hones in on the deceased by sensing a chemical that

the deceased by sensing a chemical that

the deceased by sensing a chemical that is coming off the body during decay the

is coming off the body during decay the

is coming off the body during decay the evolutionary role of the vulture is to

evolutionary role of the vulture is to

evolutionary role of the vulture is to rid the earth of harmful toxins produced

rid the earth of harmful toxins produced

rid the earth of harmful toxins produced falling death once death has been

falling death once death has been

falling death once death has been detected the turkey vulture lands and

detected the turkey vulture lands and

detected the turkey vulture lands and quickly scavenges vultures usually

quickly scavenges vultures usually

quickly scavenges vultures usually remove the eyes first then tear the skin

remove the eyes first then tear the skin

remove the eyes first then tear the skin start pulling the tissues and leave you

start pulling the tissues and leave you

start pulling the tissues and leave you with a skeleton therefore the importance

with a skeleton therefore the importance

with a skeleton therefore the importance of vultures is not in the air but on the

of vultures is not in the air but on the

of vultures is not in the air but on the ground

ground

ground vulture scavenging is somewhat gruesome

vulture scavenging is somewhat gruesome

vulture scavenging is somewhat gruesome if you’re ever on a bad first date just

if you’re ever on a bad first date just

if you’re ever on a bad first date just reference this talk and I don’t think

reference this talk and I don’t think

reference this talk and I don’t think you’ll have to worry about your

you’ll have to worry about your

you’ll have to worry about your potential suitor giving you another call

although gruesome vultures are key

although gruesome vultures are key forensic players and here’s why vultures

forensic players and here’s why vultures

forensic players and here’s why vultures will consume a dead human just like they

will consume a dead human just like they

will consume a dead human just like they will

will

will roadkill but you don’t ever hear about

roadkill but you don’t ever hear about

roadkill but you don’t ever hear about that

that

that and it’s because vultures are so good at

and it’s because vultures are so good at

and it’s because vultures are so good at what they do if vultures depend on death

what they do if vultures depend on death

what they do if vultures depend on death for survival and if they scavenge humans

for survival and if they scavenge humans

for survival and if they scavenge humans then how can vultures be absent from

then how can vultures be absent from

then how can vultures be absent from forensic textbooks and training manuals

forensic textbooks and training manuals

forensic textbooks and training manuals the answer the tradition has been for

the answer the tradition has been for

the answer the tradition has been for researchers to exclude animal scavengers

researchers to exclude animal scavengers

researchers to exclude animal scavengers from decomposition studies by placing a

from decomposition studies by placing a

from decomposition studies by placing a cage over the decaying subject matter

cage over the decaying subject matter

cage over the decaying subject matter why because researchers were afraid an

why because researchers were afraid an

why because researchers were afraid an animal would run away with their subject

animal would run away with their subject

animal would run away with their subject matter and they wouldn’t have any data

matter and they wouldn’t have any data

matter and they wouldn’t have any data to report consequently excluding animals

to report consequently excluding animals

to report consequently excluding animals results in a lengthy skeletonization

results in a lengthy skeletonization

results in a lengthy skeletonization process and this information is

process and this information is

process and this information is currently what detectives use during

currently what detectives use during

currently what detectives use during investigations a lot of times at a crime

investigations a lot of times at a crime

investigations a lot of times at a crime scene if people see a skeletonized body

scene if people see a skeletonized body

scene if people see a skeletonized body they think wow this has been here for a

they think wow this has been here for a

they think wow this has been here for a really long time

really long time

really long time undiscovered oh no no no no no no

undiscovered oh no no no no no no

undiscovered oh no no no no no no vultures accelerate decay and the

vultures accelerate decay and the

vultures accelerate decay and the skeletonized body could have been there

skeletonized body could have been there

skeletonized body could have been there for as little as five days if scavenged

for as little as five days if scavenged

for as little as five days if scavenged by vultures the failure to account for

by vultures the failure to account for

by vultures the failure to account for vulture scavenging can result in

vulture scavenging can result in

vulture scavenging can result in forensic scientists inaccurately

forensic scientists inaccurately

forensic scientists inaccurately estimating how long someone has been

estimating how long someone has been

estimating how long someone has been dead and then searching through the

dead and then searching through the

dead and then searching through the wrong missing-persons files therefore

wrong missing-persons files therefore

wrong missing-persons files therefore the goal is to get forensic scientists

the goal is to get forensic scientists

the goal is to get forensic scientists to focus on vulture evidence and to get

to focus on vulture evidence and to get

to focus on vulture evidence and to get law enforcement to consider vulture

law enforcement to consider vulture

law enforcement to consider vulture scavenging and a possible recent death

scavenging and a possible recent death

scavenging and a possible recent death when skeletal remains are found let’s

when skeletal remains are found let’s

when skeletal remains are found let’s get back to the importance of the

get back to the importance of the

get back to the importance of the kidnapping case I responded to the

kidnapping case I responded to the

kidnapping case I responded to the detectives and told them that vultures

detectives and told them that vultures

detectives and told them that vultures like areas of water they like areas with

like areas of water they like areas with

like areas of water they like areas with white-tailed deer they typically arrive

white-tailed deer they typically arrive

white-tailed deer they typically arrive within the first five days falling death

within the first five days falling death

within the first five days falling death they’re going to leave an intact spinal

they’re going to leave an intact spinal

they’re going to leave an intact spinal column and feathers the detectives write

column and feathers the detectives write

column and feathers the detectives write back and say we found the body buried in

back and say we found the body buried in

back and say we found the body buried in a shallow grave we also found the

a shallow grave we also found the

a shallow grave we also found the feathers you mentioned but there

feathers you mentioned but there

feathers you mentioned but there appeared to be a problem because the

appeared to be a problem because the

appeared to be a problem because the feathers were located 40 yards from

feathers were located 40 yards from

feathers were located 40 yards from where the body was found the feathers

where the body was found the feathers

where the body was found the feathers were next to a bloody pinecone vultures

were next to a bloody pinecone vultures

were next to a bloody pinecone vultures aren’t attracted to blood and they

aren’t attracted to blood and they

aren’t attracted to blood and they typically don’t wander they might wonder

typically don’t wander they might wonder

typically don’t wander they might wonder forty feet but they’re not going to

forty feet but they’re not going to

forty feet but they’re not going to wander forty yards that would be a waste

wander forty yards that would be a waste

wander forty yards that would be a waste of inner

of inner

of inner for a bird that doesn’t know when it

for a bird that doesn’t know when it

for a bird that doesn’t know when it will get its next meal so my first job

will get its next meal so my first job

will get its next meal so my first job here was to determine if vultures were

here was to determine if vultures were

here was to determine if vultures were at the scene indeed the feather by the

at the scene indeed the feather by the

at the scene indeed the feather by the pine cone was consistent with the turkey

pine cone was consistent with the turkey

pine cone was consistent with the turkey vulture so why in the world would a

vulture so why in the world would a

vulture so why in the world would a vulture wonder forty yards one of the

vulture wonder forty yards one of the

vulture wonder forty yards one of the reasons I love vultures is because they

reasons I love vultures is because they

reasons I love vultures is because they tend to operate in a manner that can be

tend to operate in a manner that can be

tend to operate in a manner that can be explained by biology and physics I

explained by biology and physics I

explained by biology and physics I started mentally going through the

started mentally going through the

started mentally going through the numerous baiting experiments I had

numerous baiting experiments I had

numerous baiting experiments I had conducted at a body farm in Texas a body

conducted at a body farm in Texas a body

conducted at a body farm in Texas a body farm is a place we can donate your body

farm is a place we can donate your body

farm is a place we can donate your body to science I also went through my

to science I also went through my

to science I also went through my experiences with trapping and GPS

experiences with trapping and GPS

experiences with trapping and GPS tagging vultures and then the year-long

tagging vultures and then the year-long

tagging vultures and then the year-long process of monitoring vultures via

process of monitoring vultures via

process of monitoring vultures via remote GPS technology next I brought up

remote GPS technology next I brought up

remote GPS technology next I brought up my field notes and had an aha moment I

my field notes and had an aha moment I

my field notes and had an aha moment I knew of two things that would lure

knew of two things that would lure

knew of two things that would lure vulture forty yards from a body guts and

vulture forty yards from a body guts and

vulture forty yards from a body guts and brain matter I presented this

brain matter I presented this

brain matter I presented this information to the detectives and

information to the detectives and

information to the detectives and learned that they suspected the victim

learned that they suspected the victim

learned that they suspected the victim had been incapacitated by blunt-force

had been incapacitated by blunt-force

had been incapacitated by blunt-force trauma to the head the blow to the head

trauma to the head the blow to the head

trauma to the head the blow to the head was thought to have occurred in the area

was thought to have occurred in the area

was thought to have occurred in the area where the pine cone was found and then

where the pine cone was found and then

where the pine cone was found and then the victim was drugged 40 yards and

the victim was drugged 40 yards and

the victim was drugged 40 yards and buried in a shallow grave this suggested

buried in a shallow grave this suggested

buried in a shallow grave this suggested that brain matter was the lure for the

that brain matter was the lure for the

that brain matter was the lure for the vulture and illustrates how studying

vulture and illustrates how studying

vulture and illustrates how studying vulture behavior can help piece together

vulture behavior can help piece together

vulture behavior can help piece together some of the evidence the detectives also

some of the evidence the detectives also

some of the evidence the detectives also sent me this photo the victims arm is

sent me this photo the victims arm is

sent me this photo the victims arm is sticking up out of the grave as a

sticking up out of the grave as a

sticking up out of the grave as a forensic scientist you have to think

forensic scientist you have to think

forensic scientist you have to think about the whole picture the feather by

about the whole picture the feather by

about the whole picture the feather by the pine cone indicated the vultures

the pine cone indicated the vultures

the pine cone indicated the vultures were at the scene this crime scene photo

were at the scene this crime scene photo

were at the scene this crime scene photo also depicts characteristic vulture

also depicts characteristic vulture

also depicts characteristic vulture scavenging behavior we zoom in we see a

scavenging behavior we zoom in we see a

scavenging behavior we zoom in we see a white down feather which is

white down feather which is

white down feather which is characteristic of the turkey vulture

characteristic of the turkey vulture

characteristic of the turkey vulture also note that the skin has a cut light

also note that the skin has a cut light

also note that the skin has a cut light tear near the wrist the turkey vulture

tear near the wrist the turkey vulture

tear near the wrist the turkey vulture smells the decay lands it can get

smells the decay lands it can get

smells the decay lands it can get through the pine needles pull out the

through the pine needles pull out the

through the pine needles pull out the hand it’s going to tear the skin with

hand it’s going to tear the skin with

hand it’s going to tear the skin with its beak and then start pulling the soft

its beak and then start pulling the soft

its beak and then start pulling the soft tissues away from the bone

tissues away from the bone

tissues away from the bone just tear and pull tear and pull tear

just tear and pull tear and pull tear

just tear and pull tear and pull tear and pull this photo illustrates the

and pull this photo illustrates the

and pull this photo illustrates the scavenging efficiency of vultures this

scavenging efficiency of vultures this

scavenging efficiency of vultures this is important because it helps support

is important because it helps support

is important because it helps support the timeline the detectives are putting

the timeline the detectives are putting

the timeline the detectives are putting together for the murder there’s not a

together for the murder there’s not a

together for the murder there’s not a whole lot of evidence you’re not likely

whole lot of evidence you’re not likely

whole lot of evidence you’re not likely going to see the vultures at the crime

going to see the vultures at the crime

going to see the vultures at the crime scene instead vulture just leave these

scene instead vulture just leave these

scene instead vulture just leave these very subtle clues rather than looking

very subtle clues rather than looking

very subtle clues rather than looking for the vulture look for the feathers

for the vulture look for the feathers

for the vulture look for the feathers and pristine bones vultures are

and pristine bones vultures are

and pristine bones vultures are important because they are so good and

important because they are so good and

important because they are so good and fast at what they do

fast at what they do

fast at what they do they’re like tornadoes if you blink

they’re like tornadoes if you blink

they’re like tornadoes if you blink you’ll miss them I provide in my opinion

you’ll miss them I provide in my opinion

you’ll miss them I provide in my opinion about the vulture evidence to the

about the vulture evidence to the

about the vulture evidence to the detective and he presented the vulture

detective and he presented the vulture

detective and he presented the vulture evidence in court the kidnapping case

evidence in court the kidnapping case

evidence in court the kidnapping case was a death penalty case

was a death penalty case

was a death penalty case and the defendant was found guilty this

and the defendant was found guilty this

and the defendant was found guilty this case illustrates how studying vulture

case illustrates how studying vulture

case illustrates how studying vulture behavior helps innovate forensic science

behavior helps innovate forensic science

behavior helps innovate forensic science someone who has been murdered deserves

someone who has been murdered deserves

someone who has been murdered deserves the most thorough investigation possible

the most thorough investigation possible

the most thorough investigation possible when we include vultures in forensic

when we include vultures in forensic

when we include vultures in forensic studies we pay a more thorough picture

studies we pay a more thorough picture

studies we pay a more thorough picture of what happened when it happened and

of what happened when it happened and

of what happened when it happened and who it happened to so the next time you

who it happened to so the next time you

who it happened to so the next time you are at a crime scene with a dead body

are at a crime scene with a dead body

are at a crime scene with a dead body look to the ground to find the clues

look to the ground to find the clues

look to the ground to find the clues vultures have left and if anyone ever

vultures have left and if anyone ever

vultures have left and if anyone ever brings up vultures on a date you’ll know

brings up vultures on a date you’ll know

brings up vultures on a date you’ll know they’re a keeper

they’re a keeper

they’re a keeper thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]