A Mysterious Dog "Stuck" for 60 Years in a Tree, the Body Remains Intact and Does Not Decompose

There's a reason this dog's body sat in the trunk of an oak tree for 60 years without decomposing.

When they found the hound trapped in the trunk of an oak tree, the researchers were amazed to find that the hound's body had remained intact for 60 years with no rotting at all.

A company of lumberjacks was cutting the tops of an oak tree to load onto a truck when they saw a hound poking out a gap in the logs to watch them. Experts say the hound got stuck after jumping through a tree hole while chasing an animal in 1960. Because the gap is very narrow and the hole high, the dog cannot escape. Like a random trap 60 years ago, this poor dog couldn't find his way out of the tree and has now become a "petrified mummy".

But what's special here is that the dog's body is remarkably well-preserved—almost 60 years petrified, without any Egyptian mummification techniques. So what is the reason?

Normally when a person dies, microbial tissue in the gut grows, multiplies, and takes over the body, leading to the decay process, according to University of West Florida anthropologist Christina Kilgrove. Corpses will now swell, allowing other mobs to appear to "celebrate" the corpse.

Not so with the hound on this oak tree. The key problem lies in its "coffin".

The reason given to explain this mystery is that the oak contains acrid flavors and is used to tan hides and keep them from rotting. According to researchers, bitterness is a natural dehydrating agent, which has the effect of absorbing water and drying the surrounding environment. A low-humidity environment prevents microbial activity, thereby resisting the decomposition process.

This helps keep the dog's body safe from microbial attack. At the same time, the position and shape of the oak, with the air blowing upwards, also helped to protect the poor dog's body.