In the midst of life

Another peaceful day on the gelid pond. But what is this new island? Not a muskrat lodge, despite the resemblance from afar,

but the earthly remains of a white-tailed deer felled by coyote, illness, or just a bad fall on the ice.

Exposed ribs and pink-tinted snow are the signs of hungry scavengers

aerial and diurnal,

while paw-prints of several sizes reveal the more secretive visits of heavier diners

domesticated

and wild;

singly

and in larger groups:

Please see more images and video here.