What would rip into a dead trapped coon? Just a 4 inch circle hole ripped out of the crotch of a nice size male. This was along the river bank. Some intestines pulled out but not much. Even went around the male parts.

Turtle??

Bird of prey?

My guess too. Ive had it happen late in the year here.

I would be surprised if it was not a bird of prey that did that damage to your coon.

Keith

Raven do that.

crawdads,had to say it,lol

I've had eagles eat trapped coons along the river.

Eagles will too. Years ago, I had a golden eagle trying to eat an otter I had caught that was dead in a 330. He pulled it up on the beaver dam where I caught the otter.

Was coon already dead before being eaten into? I've had a floating dead beaver & a dead carp on shore with such holes in them. It turned out to be snapping turtles on those. A trail camera can tell the truth if set up on just to know

Was his wifes name Lorena ?

I've had fisher hollow out coons hanging in body grips but I doubt you have them in Tennessee?

Aliens. They switched from cows to coons.

EX wife !!!!!

My best guess is another boar coon. I have seen it done by coyotes and wolves. It is a male dominance thing.
Pete

Bird of prey

... probably a vulture... but I wouldn’t rule out Jtrap either... who knows for sure without cell feed high def spy cams and such

I learned that rats (not muskrats...normal rats) will do this. Some areas along the river will have decent populations of rats.

White headed buzzard.

Bigfoot...
He has to eat too you know...