Stuckie, The Dog In The Tree

A Bizarre and Fascinating Discovery In 1980, loggers in Georgia, USA, made a shocking find when they cut down a chestnut oak tree and discovered a mummified dog, later named Stuckie, trapped inside the hollow trunk. The dog, estimated to have been there for around 20 years, was remarkably well-preserved due to the unique conditions within the tree.

According to Roger Prater, a renowned coon hunter, Stuckie was a treeing walker coonhound that belonged to one of his friends. Prater believes the dog chased a raccoon or squirrel into the tree, climbed up, and got stuck. The tree’s narrow exit hole at the top made it impossible for the dog to escape.

The chestnut oak tree’s natural properties played a crucial role in preserving Stuckie’s body. The tannins present in the wood acted as a desiccant, absorbing moisture and drying out the dog’s body. Additionally, the “chimney effect” within the hollow tree created an upward draft of air, carrying away the scent of decay and preventing insects and other organisms from detecting the dog’s remains.

Stuckie is now on display at the Southern Forest World Museum in Waycross, Georgia, where visitors can view the mummified dog inside the hollow tree trunk. The exhibit includes a description of the conditions that led to the dog’s preservation and the unique circumstances surrounding its discovery.