Carrion (from the Latin  caro , meaning meat) refers to the dead and decaying flesh of an animal.Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems.Examples of carrion-eaters (or scavengers) include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia opossum, Tasmanian devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles.ometimes carrion is used to describe an infected carcass that is diseased and should not be touched.