Wildlife Photographer Discovers Body in the Eel River

Diana Totten and two other members of the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team planning what needs to be done.

Diana Totten and two other members of the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team planning what needs to be done. [All photos by Talia Rose]

Wildlife photographer and County Line Wild blogger, Talia Rose, discovered a body this morning about 9 a.m. as she was out searching for images of wild creatures to capture. Talia Rose, who does freelance work for Redheaded Blackbelt, was near the bridge over the Eel River on Hwy 271 when she spotted large wild animal tracks in the sand. While gazing around, she saw and photographed what she thought might be the carcass of an animal draped over a downed tree limb in the water across the Eel River.

She posted about her find. Then, she began questioning herself. She eventually showed the “carcass” photo to a member of Southern Humboldt Tech Rescue. That led to the discovery that this was an adult male body, Talia Rose told us.

Two members of the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team on their way for a closer look.

Two members of the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team on their way for a closer look.

The body is unclothed except for sneakers, she said. (The movement of water can tear off clothing from a body immersed in it.)

According to Talia Rose, the body is just inside the Mendocino County line and a Coroner’s team is on the way to remove the body from the water and preserve evidence of what may have led to the person’s death.

The team's vehicle and trailer for carrying their equipment.

The team’s vehicle and trailer for carrying their equipment.

The team discussing options.

The team discussing options.

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Debi King
Guest
5 years ago

So sorry for Talia to have to be the finder. My heart goes out to family and friends of the deceased.

♡RIP♡
Guest
♡RIP♡
5 years ago

Many thanks to our awesome volunteers!!!!
Condolences to this persons family.

Not to say this person drowned for sure, but be careful near cliff edges and edges of waterways, its slippery and easy to fall in.
People these days are tumbling off high points in yosemite taking selfies, it could happen here too.

That section of eel that i guess would be just south of this area runs pretty fast and deep in some spots, have ridden it a few times, was told that the river elevation drops and comes back up near the green bridge curve. Anyone know if thats true?
Have there been any cars found off the road/accident with no person around south of cooks valley?

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  ♡RIP♡

The elevation of a river never comes back up. Water only flows downhill.

Heather
Guest
Heather
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

I imagine he means the river narrows so the depth of the same volume of water is deeper than other wider spots up stream

Meme
Guest
Meme
5 years ago

Maybe it’s the guy that set the van on fire

Ullr rover
Guest
Ullr rover
5 years ago
Reply to  Meme

Initial reports on that said he had heavy work boots. Granted he could have changed his shoes.

David Martin
Guest
David Martin
5 years ago
Reply to  Meme

I wondered about that guy too. I than’t thought about the different shoes.

BonnieBlue
Guest
BonnieBlue
5 years ago

Not knowing who or how or why, it’s still a sad end to a human life.

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
5 years ago

Tech rescue. Doing dirty deeds cheap…… or basically free. Kudos

Dinah
Guest
Dinah
5 years ago

Oh Talia! My dear I am so sorry your usually wondrous adventures brought you to this. My heart goes out to you.

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
5 years ago

There was a body discovered partially buried a couple of years ago right in this vicinity. I really hope that Mendo and Humboldt law enforcement share notes on cold cases, bodies found and people reported missing, in this near vicinity over the recent past.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  onlooker

True! what’s up with the bone on the rock.

Lea
Guest
Lea
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Right?? What is that all about? Big ol bone just sitting there?

Eloa lodges
Guest
Eloa lodges
5 years ago
Reply to  Lea

What bone,what rock,sure it wasnt a stick on a dirt clawed¿

Talia Rose
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Lea

My neighbor found the bone on a walk…probably Bear….

Orange Sunshine
Guest
Orange Sunshine
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Oh, that’s humorous!

Sorry for the loss
Guest
Sorry for the loss
5 years ago

Ya onlooker i think youre right, it could be the shape of the river kinda catching debris as it hits that fairly sharp curve (before it goes by the bridge) after a fairly straight fast route from the southeast.

rivi
Guest
rivi
5 years ago

Home invasion gone horrible bad for the invader?

Geoffrey davis
Guest
Geoffrey davis
5 years ago

As gravel/rock plugs moves through a river system the level of a stream bed CAN rise considerably. Water will always try to find the path of least resistance as does most everything else in the world. Humans, pigs and bears will run straight uphill when deemed necessary however.