How can scavenging animals, like buzzards and hyenas, eat rotting carcasses without getting sick?

Answer 1

As noted, scavengers like vultures and hyenas (not so much buzzards, which are actually closer to hawks) have powerful digestive systems adapted to handle food of this nature.

But also, many of them do indeed get sick from eating rotten meat. They just don't show that part often on nature shows. They don't get sick as often as we would, but they can indeed get food poisoning and parasites and other diseases from their diet.

Interestingly, humans are actually fairly good at eating rotten meat too. Not as good as hyenas, but we can eat stuff that no cat could stomach. Especially if we develop a taste for it.

Answer 2

Scavenging animals have different enzymes and bacteria in their mouths and stomachs that kill the harmful bacteria.

Many people say that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than the mouth of a person. Actually, the mouths of dogs have bacteria that are very harms to humans and they have a lot of bacteria. But, a dog's mouths are cleaned more often than a human's because they salivate so much.

Answer 3

They have a much more acidic stomach than we do and can tolerate the presence of higher levels of bacteria because it's killed by the higher acid content. Also, most carnivores have a gut that is straighter, and does not have folds and cavities where bacteria can hide out and proliferate while it is making it's way through the intestines. This means that harmful bacteria don't have time to multiply and overwhelm the animal.

Answer 4

Because they are simply accustomed to it.... I agree totally with Haysoos.... I know from experience that humans can eat raw or undercooked meat without getting sick just look at the Inuit, they regularly eat raw meats and do not get ill. This is mostly due to the simple fact that if you expose yourself to certain things you get an immunity to it (except parasites) if you dont you are susceptible to it. For example all the hype about Salmonella caused alot of people to take the advice of stupid people and stopped eating things like raw cake batter etc all sorts of antibacterial soaps etc. in the end it just made it worse, there are now more cases of salmonella than before because people are not being exposed to it and are not building immunity. Its really remarkable that people actually increase thier risk of sickness by NOT eating raw eggs or meat etc, but it is true. I have never had any food related illness because I expose myself to raw meats and eggs etc anyone who doesnt runs the risk of getting sick until they build immunity.