Artefact in forensic medicine: postmortem rodent activity.

The human body may be attacked by a variety of animals. It is a potential source of confounding marks for forensic practitioners when unmasking criminal activity. A case that posed some problems for the crime scene investigators on discovering a dead body indoors, which had both ears missing is discussed. The suspicion initially was that of homicidal mutilation of the corpse. A general awareness of artefactual postmortem animal activity may avoid their misinterpretation. This short report acknowledges a persistent paucity in the forensic literature on the subject of human remains and postmortem animal activity.