November 25, 2005, 10:18 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 2, 2001
Posts: 4,988
|
aonther odd critter
Spending a lot of time in the woods and going back and forth from my hunting sites I've seen another odd critter crossing the road twice this year. Mrs. Meek saw the second one so I'm not totally hallucinating.
It is about 14 inches high and maybe 20 inches long, sandy or light brown in color. Its hair is short and ears are rounded like a cat or possum. It has a long face like a possum, but it's head is smaller in proportion to its body, more like a weiner dog without the long ears. The back is sraight and the nose points downward at a right angle to the neck like that of a goat or deer and not forward like a pig's. It trots like a small deer, indeed it could be a deer if it weren't so small. Fox? Nope, no bushy tail, no prominent ears and no long hair. Coyote? Nope, too small, no long hair, no prominent ears. Deer? Nope, too small and head too small in proportion to the body? Bobcat? Nope, more straight back, gait is like a trot and not a bounce. Coon? Nope, color wrong, gait wrong, straignt and shoulders as high as butt. Mink? Nope, trots instead of scurrying, head is wrong shape and back is more straight.
__________________
In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL. |
November 25, 2005, 10:40 PM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: September 24, 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 19
|
If you were in south east China I would say it sounds like a Muntjac. Not too likely here though.
Muntjac.jpg Where did you see this? Are you in the North? South? |
November 25, 2005, 11:59 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 25, 2001
Location: Colorado
Posts: 504
|
Without more detail and without knowing your location. My SWAG is possibly a cotamundi.
Either that or somebodys pet Dik Dik got lose.
__________________
Velocity is thrilling, But diameter does the real killing. |
November 26, 2005, 05:57 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 2, 2001
Posts: 4,988
|
The critters were sighted deep in the heart of Dixie a few miles off the Nachez trace.
Not quite as heavy bodied as a Muntjac and back legs are less prominent than a dik dik, but close to either. Really weird.
__________________
In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL. |
November 26, 2005, 08:11 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 8, 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 199
|
That sounds kind of like a fox squirrle. We have many of them around here, you just have to know where to look. All the ones I know of live in clumps of oak trees in small groups or families. If that's what they are don't kill them because it's illegal but more importantly they mate for life
|
November 26, 2005, 05:33 PM | #6 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: March 24, 2005
Location: Steubenville, OH
Posts: 4,446
|
Ya know, it almost sounds like a ring tailed cat, or miner's cat. They're all over the desert SW, but I've never heard of them being that far east. Their real name is a cacomistle. They got the name "miner's cat" because they're really bold and friendly, and miners kept them as mascots and to get rid of mice and rats in the mines. Here's a pic of one, but the one's I've seen didn't have that boldly striped of a tail; more like a raccoon.
__________________
TFL Members are ambassadors to the world for firearm owners. What kind of ambassador does your post make you? I train in earnest, to do the things that I pray in earnest, I'll never have to do. --Capt. Charlie Last edited by Capt. Charlie; November 26, 2005 at 05:57 PM. Reason: Insert picture |
November 26, 2005, 05:44 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 2, 2005
Location: tennessee
Posts: 686
|
could it be a Coati But the book says their more prone to be in texas and the southeast
__________________
Scan and Breathe Scan and Breathe Stupidity should hurt |
November 26, 2005, 07:10 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 2, 2001
Posts: 4,988
|
Next time I see one I'm going to look closer at its tail. This looks like what I saw except for the back legs and hair didn't look quite so long. They say it is masked and the tail is striped but except for the color pattern this was the critter. That pointed nose is the same!
http://www.whozoo.org/AnlifeSS2001/b...s/BS_Coati.htm I never thought I'd see a coati mundi east of the Mississippi, but then 30 years ago armadillos weren't here either.
__________________
In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL. Last edited by MeekAndMild; November 27, 2005 at 06:28 PM. |
November 26, 2005, 07:29 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 2, 2005
Location: tennessee
Posts: 686
|
I wonder if it was a young one that hadn't reached maturity yet. Would have been cool to see one in the wild though.
__________________
Scan and Breathe Scan and Breathe Stupidity should hurt |
November 26, 2005, 09:25 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 24, 2004
Location: Hill Country
Posts: 522
|
Sounds like a chupacabra to me...
Didn't know they roamed that far east, though. If it is, don't make it mad. |
November 27, 2005, 01:22 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 26, 2005
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,187
|
It sounds too small for a chupacabra to me... maybe a young one though. But arn't chupacabras nocturnal? And in any case, it shouldn't be that lightly colored.
__________________
The test of character is not 'hanging in' when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty, and persistence of example when you know no light is coming. - Vice Admiral James Stockdale, USN (ret.) |
November 27, 2005, 05:01 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 17, 2001
Posts: 838
|
Chupacabra!!!!!!
__________________
.45 ACP Because no matter how you try to rationalize it, 9mm is still for women and pansies. Build a bridge, and...GET OVER IT! |
November 27, 2005, 08:16 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 8, 2001
Location: North Central Florida & Miami
Posts: 3,207
|
__________________
Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan |
November 28, 2005, 09:00 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 2, 2001
Posts: 4,988
|
No, a nute has yellow teeth and waddles when it walks on land.
Chupacabra is bigger and has porcelain teeth and makes people crazy when they get too close.
__________________
In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL. |
November 28, 2005, 10:39 PM | #15 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: March 24, 2005
Location: Steubenville, OH
Posts: 4,446
|
Quote:
__________________
TFL Members are ambassadors to the world for firearm owners. What kind of ambassador does your post make you? I train in earnest, to do the things that I pray in earnest, I'll never have to do. --Capt. Charlie |
|
November 29, 2005, 03:41 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 24, 2004
Location: Hill Country
Posts: 522
|
M&M, you knock me out!
And to think, we may have one for president!:barf: |
November 29, 2005, 05:56 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 2, 2005
Location: tennessee
Posts: 686
|
That thing with the porcelain teeth would eat a chupacabra for breakfast.
__________________
Scan and Breathe Scan and Breathe Stupidity should hurt |
November 29, 2005, 07:33 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 19, 2005
Location: C/U, IL
Posts: 116
|
__________________
"...I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up they know that's as good as they're going to feel all day." Don't Get Wenzeled Why? Because shooting stuff is fun. Last edited by No Name XII; November 29, 2005 at 10:46 PM. |
November 30, 2005, 01:07 AM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 7, 2005
Location: NC
Posts: 260
|
how'bout a mist-placed Badger...?
|
November 30, 2005, 02:33 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 29, 2005
Posts: 558
|
M&M, you should bring a flashless camera with you in the woods in case you run across it again. It may be something exotic that someone had as a pet and turned loose, or got away. A long time ago I had a nile moniter lizard that got away . By the time it turned up in the woods near where I used to live it was over 6 feet in length and had scared the crap out of kids who would ride thier 4-wheelers in the woods.
|
November 30, 2005, 06:29 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 2, 2005
Location: tennessee
Posts: 686
|
No Name
we already had one picture of hillary we didn't need another one Jeez.
__________________
Scan and Breathe Scan and Breathe Stupidity should hurt |
November 30, 2005, 11:49 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 19, 2005
Location: C/U, IL
Posts: 116
|
Sorry. I will try to be more thoughtful next time.
Hey, 100 posts, and it only took 10 1/2 months.
__________________
"...I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up they know that's as good as they're going to feel all day." Don't Get Wenzeled Why? Because shooting stuff is fun. |
December 1, 2005, 10:05 AM | #23 |
Junior member
Join Date: May 31, 2004
Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A.
Posts: 12,451
|
The 'trotting' thing really has me thrown. A coati, beaver, nutria, or other rodent-type animal is not going to trot.
Was it more of a 'hop' or a 'trot'? |
December 1, 2005, 05:35 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX
Posts: 12,714
|
My guess is that "trotting" probably is not an accurate description of the locomotion. Beaver and nutria don't trot, as noted and really are not great on land runners for very far. Coatis and other carnivores do have a trot, gallop, or jog, whatever you want to call it. I bet few of us here who don't raise and show horses could actually define each of these off the tops of our heads and the terms often get used in interchanged contexts.
However, there is a rodent that might fit the description. It is herded like smaller artiodactyls, has a sort of small deer-like gait, at times, long face, rounded smaller ears, white teeth, correct coloring, rear haunch high, and about the right size and color. It is the capibara of Central and South America. They love the water. It would have to be an introduced one, such as an escaped pet or zoo animal as you are a couple thousand miles by land from the nearest sources and while they like to swim, there are no records of them crossing the Gulf via swimming. I don't think it is likely to be a Capibara, but that is the best suggestion I could come up with from the limited description and the fact that all the other good indiginous choices were already taken.
__________________
"If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange |
December 1, 2005, 07:01 PM | #25 |
Staff Alumnus
Join Date: May 2, 1999
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 3,611
|
Muskrat....
__________________
http://www.scfirearms.org/ |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|