In an astonishing discovery, workers from the Georgia Kraft Corporation uncovered a hunting dog named Stuckie perfectly mummified inside an oak tree. The dog had apparently chased prey into the hollow trunk decades ago and became trapped, unable to escape. Nearly sixty years later, the tree was cut down, revealing Stuckie preserved as if frozen in time.
The tree’s unique environment played a crucial role in the preservation. Tannins in the oak bark acted as natural preservatives, keeping out moisture and preventing bacteria and insects from decomposing the dog’s remains. Biological anthropologist Christina Kilgrove explained that this rare combination of conditions resulted in Stuckie’s remarkable state of preservation.
Today, Stuckie is on display at the Museum of the South Forest in Waycross, Georgia. Visitors are captivated by the haunting, yet fascinating sight of a loyal hunting companion preserved so perfectly after decades, a true testament to nature’s unexpected wonders.