How did this 'skinned animal carcass' end up outside Woodland Park Zoo?

Michelle Reindal was walking her dogs on a trail just north of the Woodland Park Zoo over the weekend when she found what looked like a skinned animal carcass.

So Reindal posted about it on the My Ballard Facebook page.

"Umm, just found this near the zoo. Any ideas of what the hell this could be? Deer? I'm nervous to say ... dog? I'm thoroughly grossed out."

Reindal told KUOW the carcass was around 3 to 4 feet long.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is investigating. They’ve contacted neighbors to see if anyone “saw anything out of the ordinary.”

If you have any information the Seattle Animal Shelter asks that you call their dispatch center at 206-386-7387 or submit information online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org and click on the Animal Control link.

Please let us know as well by emailing dhyde@kuow.org.

Story update on February 6, 2019:

KUOW was also sent a photo of what appeared to be an animal's intestine also found near the zoo.

"It was about 6-7 inches across, light blue-gray in color and just sitting in the open near the trail," Erica Grivas said.

Grivas said she came across it just above the skate park and dirt bike track, near Lower Woodland Soccer Field #2.