Abstract
Understanding how environment affects the decomposition process of a corpse is crucial in
assisting forensic investigations. In winter, decomposition, insect activity and animal scav
enging decrease due to low temperatures which cause preservation. Decomposition, insect
activity and animal scavenging increase in the summer. During spring and fall, decomposi
tion can occur in addition to adipocere formation and preservation depending on the ambient
temperature as temperatures during daytime and evening can be vastly different. Further
studies are needed to develop a more specific timeline for decomposition in the Palouse
region.