Death Trap for Meat-Eaters

Death Trap for Meat-Eaters. . This tar trapped lost of meat-eaters, like dire wolves and saber-toothed cats, because they couldn't resist this temptation. Scientists think the sight and smell of other animals stuck in tar attracted carnivores. Carnivores might tear off a trapped animal's limbs and escape - or get mired in tar themselves. , Most of La rea's fossils represent partial skeletons. We think this is because carnivores often managed to tear off limbs and carry them away without getting stuck. , 1) One Fatal Footstep , Thirsty animals step into the sticky goo hidden by shallow pools of water, leaves, or dirt., 2) Struggling makes it worse , They struggle to get free, tumbling onto their sides. With most of their body stuck in the tar, they became hopelessly mired., 3) Easy picking for predators , Dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, coyotes, and short-faced bears move in for an easy supper. , 4) Predators fall prey , Lucky predators tear off exposed limbs and get away, but unlucky ones get stuck and die. , Bones become fossils , After animals died, flesh, and soft tissue rotted away, but bone stayed stuck in goo. Seasonal streams washed sand and silt over the bones, fixing them in a sticky mix of asphalt, sediment, and organic remains. Bones kept soaking up tar to become near-perfectly preserved., carnivore = a flesh eating animal, such as a dog, fox, bear, wolf and cat., brea = Spanish for tar or pitch.