Life Everlasting

1. Death is a Celebration of Renewal

Death is, among other things, also a wild celebration of renewal, with our substance hosting the party.

Ecological perspective. Death isn't an end, but a transformation. In nature, a dead organism becomes a resource, fueling new life through scavengers, decomposers, and the cycle of nutrients. This perspective shifts the focus from loss to the continuation of life in different forms.

Nutrient redistribution. When an animal dies in the wild, its body becomes a concentrated source of nutrients that are spread across the landscape by scavengers like flies, beetles, and vultures. This redistribution enriches the soil and supports plant growth, creating a positive feedback loop.

• Flies and beetles spread nutrients.
• Plants benefit from enriched soil.
• The cycle continues with herbivores consuming the plants.

Human impact. Traditional human burial practices, which often involve sealing bodies in caskets, can disrupt this natural cycle by preventing nutrients from returning to the ecosystem. Cremation, while seemingly more eco-friendly, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

2. We are Conduits of Life, Not Just Dust

We come from life, and we are the conduit into other life.

Breaking the dust myth. The common saying that we come from and return to dust diminishes the significance of our physical existence. In reality, we are made of life and become part of other living organisms after death.

The cycle of elements. Our bodies are composed of elements like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, which are constantly being exchanged between organisms. Plants absorb carbon dioxide released from decaying matter, and animals consume plants, continuing the cycle.

• Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants.
• Animals consume plants.
• Decomposition releases elements back into the environment.

Interconnectedness of life. We are intricately linked to the web of life, with our bodies providing sustenance for beetles, grass, trees, and a myriad of other organisms. This understanding fosters a deeper appreciation for our role in the ecosystem.

3. Scavengers and Predators: Two Sides of the Same Coin

As I began to think about nature’s undertakers, the distinction between predators and scavengers became blurred and almost arbitrary in my mind.

Overlapping roles. The line between predator and scavenger is often indistinct. Many animals, such as ravens, lions, and bears, readily switch between hunting live prey and scavenging dead carcasses, depending on availability and opportunity.

Opportunistic feeding. Most animals will take the easiest route to obtaining food, whether it involves killing a weakened animal or scavenging a fresh carcass. Herbivores, too, consume organisms that are least able to defend themselves.

• Ravens scavenge in winter and hunt in summer.
• Lions scavenge when possible, avoiding risky hunts.
• Deer eat baby birds if they find them in nests.

Recycling as a continuum. Both predators and scavengers play a vital role in recycling nutrients and energy within an ecosystem. By consuming dead or dying organisms, they prevent the buildup of waste and facilitate the flow of resources to other life forms.

4. Size Matters in the Cycle of Life and Death

Size is an important aspect of the way an organism can live and the form it can have.

Scale and decomposition. The size of an organism influences how it decomposes and which scavengers are involved. Small animals like mice are often buried by beetles, while larger carcasses like deer attract a succession of scavengers, from vultures to beetles to bacteria.

Cooling rates. Larger animals retain heat longer after death, which can promote bacterial growth and accelerate decomposition. This is why gutting large animals immediately after death is important to prevent spoilage.

• Small animals cool quickly, favoring insect scavengers.
• Large animals cool slowly, favoring bacterial decomposition.

Undertaker specialization. Different scavengers are adapted to handle carcasses of different sizes. Burying beetles specialize in small animals, while vultures and coyotes are equipped to process larger carcasses.

5. Burying Beetles: Nature's Tiny Undertakers

Unlike humans, who generally bury only our own species and those pets who have become surrogate humans, these beetles bury a great diversity of birds and mammals but never their own kind.

Unique burial behavior. Burying beetles (Nicrophorus) are unique in their deliberate burial of carcasses as a food source for their larvae. This behavior is central to their mating and reproductive strategy.

Cooperative parenting. A pair of burying beetles will work together to transport a carcass, excavate a burial chamber, and prepare the carcass for their larvae. They also provide parental care by feeding the larvae regurgitated food.

• Beetles transport carcasses by crawling underneath.
• They remove hair and spray the carcass with antibiotics.
• Parents feed larvae regurgitated food.

Mimicry and deception. Some burying beetles, like Nicrophorus tomentosus, have evolved a unique color-change mechanism that allows them to mimic bumblebees in flight, potentially avoiding predation by birds. This adaptation enables them to hunt for carcasses during the day.

6. The Dance of Death: A Deer's Final Sendoff

I hauled [the deer] to an open slope, put up my burlap blind, camouflaged it with wild grape vines. For two days I stewed in my own sweat while the carcass, thirty feet away, ripened, and flies swarmed.

Succession of scavengers. The decomposition of a deer carcass involves a predictable sequence of scavengers, starting with vultures and ravens, followed by flies and beetles, and finally bacteria. Each group plays a specific role in breaking down the carcass and recycling its nutrients.

Competition and dominance. Different scavengers compete for access to the carcass, with larger and more aggressive animals often dominating. However, even smaller organisms like flies and beetles can outcompete larger scavengers under certain conditions.

• Vultures arrive first, followed by ravens and coyotes.
• Flies can dominate in warm temperatures.
• Beetles arrive later to consume remaining tissues.

Human interference. Human activities, such as removing carcasses from the environment or disrupting natural scavenger populations, can alter the decomposition process and disrupt the flow of nutrients within an ecosystem.

7. Humans: The Ultimate Recyclers, from Tortoises to Elephants

The hand is the cutting edge of the mind . . . The most powerful drive in the ascent of man is pleasure in his own skill.

From scavenger to hunter. Early humans likely evolved from scavenging to hunting large animals, driven by the need for concentrated energy sources. This transition required the development of tools, social cooperation, and intelligence.

Megafauna extinctions. The spread of humans across the globe has been linked to the extinction of many large animal species, including mammoths, mastodons, and giant tortoises. Humans' hunting prowess and lack of ecological awareness led to the overexploitation of these resources.

• Giant tortoises were easy prey for early humans.
• Mammoths were hunted with spears and other tools.
• Many megafauna species disappeared shortly after human arrival.

Modern recycling. Today, humans are the ultimate scavengers, tapping into vast reserves of fossil energy and cycling resources through our farms and factories. However, this unsustainable consumption is leading to ecological imbalances and the need for a more conscious approach to resource management.

8. Temperature Dictates the Undertaker's Role

Of all the variables that affect the disposition of dead animals, temperature is the one with the widest implications.

Seasonal shifts. Temperature plays a crucial role in determining which organisms are active in the decomposition process. In northern climates, winter temperatures limit the activity of insects and bacteria, making mammals and birds the primary scavengers.

Winter scavengers. During winter, coyotes, foxes, and ravens are the main undertakers, opening carcasses and distributing meat across the landscape. This provides a vital food source for other mammals and birds.

• Coyotes open carcasses for ravens.
• Ravens cache meat for later use.
• Mammals and birds consume cached meat.

Summer scavengers. In warmer months, flies and beetles become more active, quickly colonizing carcasses and outcompeting larger scavengers. Bacteria also play a significant role in decomposition during warmer periods.

9. Ravens: The Cheeriest Sky Burial Specialists

Far from being “ghastly” and “grim” à la Poe, ravens are the cheeriest birds on earth, especially near a potential feast, and what’s more, they perform sky burial most joyfully.

Keen observers. Ravens are intelligent and adaptable birds that play a crucial role in northern ecosystems. They are skilled at finding carcasses and often follow coyotes and other predators to access food.

Caching behavior. Ravens cache meat from carcasses, storing it for later use. This behavior helps distribute nutrients across the landscape and provides a food source for other animals.

• Ravens cache meat in the snow and ground.
• Coyotes and other animals rob raven caches.
• Caching helps ravens survive harsh winters.

Communication and play. Ravens are highly social birds that communicate through a variety of calls and displays. They also engage in playful behaviors, such as tumbling in the air, which may serve to strengthen social bonds.

10. Vultures: Nature's Efficient Cleanup Crew

Turkey vultures, supposedly attracted to even minute amounts of ethanethiol, have been used to detect the locations of leaking gas pipelines.

Specialized scavengers. Vultures are highly specialized carrion feeders, adapted to consume rotting meat and resist bacterial toxins. Their keen eyesight and soaring flight allow them to locate carcasses from great distances.

Ecological services. Vultures play a vital role in preventing the spread of disease by quickly removing carcasses from the environment. They also help recycle nutrients and maintain ecosystem health.

• Vultures consume rotting meat, preventing disease.
• They have strong stomach acids to kill bacteria.
• Their presence reduces fly populations.

Threats to vultures. Vulture populations are declining worldwide due to habitat loss, poisoning, and other human activities. The decline of vultures can have significant ecological and economic consequences.

11. Trees: Silent Undertakers and Givers of Life

Plants aren’t undertakers, but they are the ultimate biochemists.

Carbon sequestration. Trees are essential for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in their wood and roots. This process helps regulate the climate and mitigate the effects of global warming.

Nutrient cycling. When trees die, their bodies decompose and release nutrients back into the soil, providing sustenance for other plants and organisms. This process is facilitated by fungi, bacteria, and insects.

• Fungi break down wood and release nutrients.
• Insects create tunnels and aerate the soil.
• Decomposition enriches the soil for new growth.

Habitat provision. Both living and dead trees provide habitat for a wide variety of animals, from birds and mammals to insects and fungi. Standing dead trees are particularly important for woodpeckers and other cavity-nesting birds.

12. The Afterlife: Physical, Mental, and Everlasting

I want to join in the party of the greatest show on earth, life everlasting.

Physical recycling. Our bodies are composed of elements that have been recycled through countless organisms over billions of years. After death, our bodies will continue to be recycled into new life forms.

Mental inheritance. We leave a legacy through our relationships with others and the ideas we share. Our thoughts, beliefs, and experiences can influence future generations and shape the course of history.

• Mentors pass on knowledge and values.
• Ideas can inspire change and innovation.
• Our actions can have lasting consequences.

Everlasting life. While our individual consciousness may cease to exist after death, our physical and mental contributions will continue to ripple through the universe, becoming part of something larger and more enduring.

Last updated: April 4, 2025