Family members find man's body partially eaten by animal in home, Detroit police say

(CBS/AP) DETROIT - An autopsy is expected on the remains of a Detroit man who police say was partly devoured by an animal in his home.

The Detroit Free Press reports  Tuesday that part of the man's leg was chewed off. The badly decomposed body was found Monday afternoon on the city's northwest side by relatives who were conducting a welfare check.

Sgt. Michael Woody says the body's condition makes it difficult to determine if he died of natural causes or from foul play.

Police reportedly said they can't release additional information because of an ongoing investigation.

Woody also says investigators aren't sure if a dog or another animal gnawed on the remains.

Thousands of stray dogs reportedly roam Detroit's streets, living in vacant houses and buildings. But raccoons, opossums and other wild creatures are finding refuge in the city which has lost more than one million people since the 1950s.