The Mystery Surrounding Antlers
Fans of the TV show Hannibal know the cannibal psychiatrist and gourmet chef—although his ingredients are quite questionable—often uses deer antlers to create macabre crime scenes. Some may think the creators of the show stole the idea from HBO’s True Detective, but that isn’t the case. The original idea stemmed from Stephen King. In his 1979 hit Salem’s Lot, King impaled one of the characters with antlers. They say it takes three repetitions to create a trend, and perhaps there’s some truth to that.
Antlers intrigued me enough to write them into my new novel, CLEAVED.
In preparation, I did extensive research into deer antlers. Specifically, white tail deer, the only breed that live in New Hampshire, where the story takes place. The reason antlers and murder elicit such a strong reaction might be because the deer symbolizes purity, rebirth, and regeneration. By showing the antlers of such a majestic creature next to the darkness of murder it strikes at our fears. Subconsciously we think, if the killer could use an innocent animal in this way, maybe none of us are safe.
It’s precisely this symbolism that sent me down a rabbit hole of research. Or was it a jackrabbit hole? LOL Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Finding a way to incorporate antlers into the MO so it made sense became a much harder task. Deer antlers weren’t enough, though. I needed more. So I included the King of Hearts playing card, women encased in oil drums, birch trees, and nursery rhymes. Sounds crazy, I know, but I promise it all makes sense in the end.
Many mysteries surround antlers.
Why do deer shed their antlers? Why do only males and hermaphrodite deer grow antlers? How do antlers grow faster than any other vertebrae bone on earth?
I share some of the mythology and symbolism in the book, so I won’t share it here. A few interesting facts I didn’t include are…
• Hardened antlers (not in velvet) are made up of 45% protein, 22% calcium, 11% phosphorous, and 1% fat. They also contain magnesium, sodium, aluminum, potassium, copper, manganese, and zinc.
• The chemical composition varies according to location and is affected by other factors, like soil and the amount of rainfall during the antler growth cycle.
• Antlers respond to their environment. Genetics, age, and diet are the three key factors.
• Even though only male deer and moose grow antlers, there are exceptions, like caribou, elk, and reindeer. Although, with the exception of reindeer, they’re then called “horns”.
• Why do female reindeer grow antlers when their southern cousins do not?
Here’s a tidbit for speculative fans. The now-extinct Irish Elk, known as the Giant Deer Meglasaurus Gigantus, lived until 5,000 B.C. Analysis of its bone and teeth from scientists showed the huge herbivore stood 7’ tall with gigantic antlers that spanned 12’ across and weighed up to 80 lbs. Imagine running into him? Whoa.
No matter the amount of research, no one really knows whyantlers antlers exist.
Scientists have theories, but no concrete proof. Some theories are…
• To acquire a mate. The bigger the antlers, the better the quality of male. (I’m not commenting on that, especially while on a man’s site)
• They’re used as weapons to fight off other males, even though many times a gorgeous rack is enough to make the lesser male stand down.
• Defense against predators.
What blows the first two theories are female reindeer. If antlers exist merely to attract potential mates, then why do any females grow them? Some scientists believe horned (caribou) or antlered (reindeer) females who live out in open use them for protection and so they don’t stand out from the male members of society.They also use them to clear snow.
With regard to moose, they say the antlers are used as large hearing aids. But then, why don’t females grow them? Are female moose deaf? Or do they just not care what male moose have to say?
As I mentioned earlier, environment plays a key role in antler growth. The photo period is the 24 hour period where the deer are exposed to sunlight. In the summer we have longer days. During which bugs produce higher levels of testosterone, which triggers antler growth. Antlers start out as cartilage in velvet,which is fuzzy and rich in blood vessels. If we were to pet thevelvet, the antlers would be hot to the touch.
When the bugs go through a second cycle of testosterone, it triggers mineralization and hardening of the antlers. In the fall when the sunlight diminishes, deer rub their antlers against trees, other plant life, and bugs. This removes the velvet to reveal bony antlers. They carry these hardened antlers through the fall and winter. In the spring, the bugs drop in testosterone level signals another change. Within days of this drop, the antlers release from their pedicles. In other words, the deer sheds its antlers. A scab-like material grows over these pedicles and the cycle repeats, with these new growth cells.
Cool, right?
Blurb:
Author Sage Quintano writes about crime. Her husband Niko investigates it. Together they make an unstoppable team. But no one counted on a twisted serial killer, who stalks their sleepy community, uproots their happy home, and splits the threads that bond their family unit.
Darkness swallows the Quintanos whole–ensnared by a ruthless killer out for blood. Why he focused on Sage remains a mystery, but he won't stop till she dies like the others.
Women impaled by deer antlers, bodies encased in oil drums, nursery rhymes, and the Suicide King. What connects these cryptic clues? For Sage and Niko, the truth may be more terrifying than they ever imagined.
Want to see how I used antlers in CLEAVED? Save $5.00 by pre-ordering now. Only 99c: http://smarturl.it/Cleaved
Bio:
Member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Sue Coletta is a multi-published, award-winning author. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and collections, including a forensic article in InSinC Quarterly. In addition to her popular crime resource blog, Sue co-hosts the radio show “Partners In Crime” on Blog Talk Radio. She’s also the communications manager for the Serial Killer Project and Forensic Science and founder of #ACrimeChat on Twitter, where she helps other crime writers' stories ring true.
She lives with her husband in a quaint country town in rural New Hampshire where she's surrounded by moose, deer, black bears, and the sultry songs of nature. Course, Sue would love to snuggle with the wildlife, but her husband frowns on the idea.
Connect with Sue at the following locations:
Fascinating post, Sue – I never knew there was so much to antlers, or the science behind their growth 😊 sounds like a great book, too!
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Thanks, Helen! I didn’t either until I started my research.
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I particularly like that scientists don’t really know why antlers exist – a bit like how they don’t know why leaves change colour in autumn either. Just a wonder of nature, I guess 🙂
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I like that aspect, too, Helen. Unfortunately, they’ve done numerous experiments to try to find out. I wish they’d leave the poor animals alone. They’re such beautiful and graceful animals. Nature is so amazing.
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Oh, that’s awful! Yes, leave them alone, don’t worry about the why, just enjoy the ‘is’. Antlers are beautiful!
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They really are. I have a set hanging on my wall, but made sure they were shed antlers (antlers that fall off naturally).
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Oh, that’s lovely 😊
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I’m sure it is, Helen. It’s on my reading list.
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Thanks for hosting me, Craig!
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My pleasure.
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Interesting. Didn’t know that some of them are called ‘horns’ since those aren’t supposed to fall out. Even the shape of some don’t make much sense like the Oryx with them going straight back. The reason could just be different for each species.
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I’ve never seen an Oryx. What type of climate do they live in, Charles?
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He’s an African antelope, and live in deserts. There is an import herd near the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
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African savannah. So grasslands among the lions, leopards, and crocodiles. Their antlers are straight and kind of go up and back. Guess they can help stab a predator on its back. It looks like both genders have them too.
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Someone needs to explain the Narwhal.
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I can. It’s a tooth, much like an elephant’s tusk, and it’s ivory.
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Horns and antlers are interchangeable in the country. There is a difference, but most don’t stop to think about it. Oryx have horns.
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I’m noticing that there’s the common usage and scientific ones. Seems antelope have horns and deer have antlers in the shedding sense. Probably has everything to do with environment.
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It’s interesting how some animals in the deer family are almost gaudy. A bull bison is bigger than a moose, but his horns are conservative at best.
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It also helps with the herd defense. Not sure if moose make a circle of adults around the kids.
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They’re loners. You’ll see a cow and calf, but that’s about it. They don’t run in herds. She’s still fearsome even without antlers.
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The feet and head are massive. Keep thinking how giraffes are pretty dangerous if you get them mad too.
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Noted; don’t make the giraffes mad.
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Nope. Though they are fun to feed.
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We have a friend we call The Moose Whisperer, because whenever he sees a moose he pulls to the side of the road and sweet-talks her. These female moose do the funniest things, too, as if they’re in a modeling shoot. His girlfriend’s caught it on video a few times. Hilarious! He must have an amazing aura or something, because several different species have responded over the years. He’s not willing to try it on a bear, though. Probably smart.
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I’d put that on my resume. I used to call badgers out of their burrows and photograph them up close.
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Love to see the pics. *hint hint* New post idea?
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They’re over 20 years old, and on Kodachrome slides somewhere.
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Very interesting post, Sue. Nursery rhymes, murder and antlers, huh? Can’t see how they all fit together! 😁 Intriguing! I too have written about the Great Irish Elk on my blog, they were huge!
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I know, right? He must have been one ginormous animal to carry 80lb antlers. Thanks, Ali!
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He must have been spectacular.
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I read your Irish Elk posts. I like the idea that when the locals find them they get displayed in the old hunting lodges.
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Salem’s Lot is one of my favorite King books, and the original movie remains one of my favorite movies. I’ve got that on DVD and remember the antler scene well.
Yes, there is definitely something creepy and grim with impaling. And I never made the connection between white tail deer being such gentle creatures and your killer using deer antlers as part of his MO.
Chilling, Sue.
Thanks for the education about antlers. I especially liked the bit about the Irish Elk.
And to Craig’s readers, you’re going to want to pick up a copy of CLEAVED. I was fortunate to be an ARC reader, and Sue has woven a pulse-pounding tale. At .99c on pre-order it’s a steal!
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Aww, thank you Mae!
After True Detective and Hannibal, Stephen King seemed to get ripped off for his powerful idea of putting together antlers with murder. Hence, why I mentioned him in the book. I’m hoping to give credit back to its original creator. We authors have to stick together, right?
Quick funny story. When I first started researching antlers it took me a while to find the connection to Stephen King. I found numerous pages for True Detective and Hannibal, but very little on King till I dug deeper. After I sent out ARCs and prepared for this post, I found numerous Google searches for “Stephen King + antlers.” I guess readers are checking my facts. LOL
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That’s funny. Eventually have your own Wikipedia page as an antler expert. Don’t forget about The Evil Dead. Seems like several people were impaled on taxidermy specimens. Although they also talked and tormented the victims.
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See? I’d never make it as an expert. I didn’t know about The Evil Dead. Talked and tormenting the victims sounds fun, though!
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Anything with Bruce Campbell is fun.
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That’s interesting, Sue! I did love the King reference in Cleaved. Funny to think readers are checking it out 🙂
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Thanks, Mae, and good to know. I have my own ARC in the queue.
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I happily pre-ordered my copy. Can’t wait to read it!
I love your work; it’s so dark and twisted. Makes me forget your sense of humor. You had me laughing in today’s post. (Didn’t want to comment on a man’s site… too funny.)
This lore is fascinating, and the items you mentioned that you wove together in the plot have me intrigued. Looking forward to the release. Best wishes with it, Sue.
Craig, great job with this post.
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*blush* Thank you, Staci. I’ll happily send it to you now if you don’t want to wait. Up to you. I know how busy we all are. No pressure!
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Thanks, but it’s all Sue today.
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Aww… You. Are. Awesome.
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I really am, but I’m trying to be humble.
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Hahahahaha!
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Who knew? This was a fascinating post. I learned many things about antlers that I did not know. Thanks for hosting Sue, Craig.
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Thank you, RiJan (hope that’s right).
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Love the cover, Sue – and also your comment on size! Educational post. Thanks for hosting, Craig.
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Hahahahaha. Thanks, Traci!
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Brilliant Sue.. I must admit to prefering my antlers adorning the head of the animals concerned.. and I have met a few two legged beings who seem to have them too.. Congratulations on the new book and scheduled into a cafe update on its release.
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It’s amazing how much research goes into a novel. Thanks for visiting.
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Thank you, Sally. I prefer my antlers that way too.
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Very interesting Sue. I lived for a number of years among the deer. We would find antlers in the woods and were always mystified by the process. Your book sounds terrific. Thanks to Craig for hosting.
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I’m fascinated by the process too, John. You found sheds? Wow. They’re not easy to find. Hope you saved them. They’re worth big bucks to the right buyer.
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We used to find tons of them in Nevada. We left them alone unless they were spectacular in some way.
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Smart. My neighbor puts them on her deck for the chipmunks, birds, and squirrels. Apparently, they like the marrow.
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All the rodents liked to chew on them, particularly porcupines.
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Aww, how adorable.
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Big Bucks? *rummages through the old boxes. I only have one left. It is a six point with one of the points having been broken off and then a regrowth stared before they were shed. Quite interesting. I figure the post might have been broken during the velvet rub off.
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I used to have some whoppers. One where the main beam was as thick as my forearm and points everywhere. I also had an elk horn (antler) that was longer than I am tall.
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Wow. The deer around me were white tail so they never had such big antlers.
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In NV they were all mule deer. We have both here.
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Those mule deer get pretty big I hear.
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True.
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Ha ha ha. I was hoping for some size info but I know you are busy.
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Not that busy. It depends on the area, like with whitetail. A mature mule deer buck can weigh in at over 300 lbs in extreme cases. They can have racks with outside spreads of over 30 inches.
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Whew. Like to see one.
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They walk past my office window on occasion, and there are some in the city parks. You never see the really big boys, but I snapped a photo of a semi-large one at the office one day.
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I think I would be blown away.
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Wow. How cool. If it ever stops snowing around here, I can’t wait to venture into the woods to see what I can find. Might be a while, though. Another 6″-12″ expected tomorrow. Ugh!
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I think we’re finished locally. Massive amounts of rain predicted this week. It will be snow in the mountains though.
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My goodness. Good thing you are a writer. 😀
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I have this strange image of you living among the deer now. Kind of like being raised by wolves.
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Hahahaha. So do I, Craig!
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I was one with the herd.
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Hello! ‘Cleaved’ is an intriguing book. Now I want to do my own search on antlers. I never really thought about them in that way. Very interesting. 🙂
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Thank you, Vashti. Go for it. I really enjoyed my research into antlers, especially speaking to antler experts in my area. Who knew there was so much to them?
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Check out the book, Cleaved, by Sue Coletta, as featured on the Entertaining Stories blog.
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Much appreciated, Don.
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Thanks so much, Don!
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You’re welcome.
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Fabulous Sue! 🙂
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Thanks, Debby!
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Most welcome. 🙂
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Great price! Just ordered mine. Best of luck with the launch, Sue!
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Good Job, Carrie.
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Thanks so much, Carrie!
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This is all new to me. Or, at least, I never gave much thought to antlers but from the sizes of some of the creatures you mentioned, I wouldn’t want to run into any of them, lol. Interesting connection to Stephen King. I’ll have to reread Salem’s Lot one of these days to remember the scene. Good luck with Cleaved, Sue!
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I’d like to reread Salem’s Lot, too, one day. Thanks, Traci!
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You’re welcome, Sue!
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