aonther odd critter

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'?
 
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.
 
ok, the second time, the one when Mrs. Meek was there with me, there were 2 of them climbing the side of the roadside ditch and into the wods. Then the gait was a kind of a scramble, like you'd see with any sort of animal whether deer or coon or skunk.

But the first time I saw one it was trotting across the road, with a gait for all the world like a horse. My first thought was, "I've been reading too much. There is no was there is a living Eohippus crossing the road here."

Capibara? No, that critter looks too squared off in the nose and mouth. So far the Coati is the closest, escept their back legs look a little bit too long and I didn't get a look at any striped tail.

This is really weird.
 
Of all the things that I have come across in the woods, that critter in the blue suit is the scarriest thing I have ever seen!!!

Adam
 
Another sighting.

After nearly 2 years we saw one again, at nearly the same place. It was crossing the road from the side with a pond to the uphill side. This view was from the rear quarter and we got a really good look at the coloring, entirely uniform without any stripes, et cetera.

Ms. Meek believes it looked the most like a fox, though to me it was about twice as big as one, maybe 3-4 feet long including its tail much like you'd see on a mountain lion and small rounded ears. It had shorter legs relative to its length than even a bobcat though it had small rounded ears. If it wasn't so big, with a doglike tail, so much of a dun color and headed up into the woods away from water I'd say it looked almost otter-like. Bigger, but there is a resemblance.
 
We have limited seasons on most of our varmints except for feral hogs, cats and armadillos, (which it isn't). And what if its a New Jersey Devil which has moved south to get away from urban sprawl? :D That would be like shooting bigfoot.
 
Devil is Dead

It is common knowledge to all hereabouts that the Jersey Devil is dead, killed by a wild Piney on an ATV some years ago as he was drunkenly shooting his pap's old Parker double while riding through the scrub. Lucky, wild shot.

Bigfoot! That's re-dick-u-luss! We're talking about real critters here, not some made up stuff....sheesh!
 
Actually chupacabras differ in color, height and shape depending on what area of the U.S. they are located at. Here is a western chupacabra, although looks can differ they have the same annoying grin.

199px-Dianne_Feinstein_congressional_portrait.jpg


:D josh
 
If you know where it drinks and own a scouting/game cam is there a chance we might see a photo? Very interesting.

Try a few broken apples for a few nights and if that doesn't work try the cheapest canned fish you can find. You might be amazed what will show up.

S-
 
With the idiotic things the idiots decide to keep for pets, the list is looooong, there is really no telling.
A friend had a Coati as a pet and it was even worse than a pet coon,if you who have had a pet coon can even imagine that.
If I had a pet Coati, it would not take long to decide the better part of valor was to kick it out the door and hope it never came back.:D
 
we have these things called Jaguarundi's here in South Texas. I'm not quite sure where in "dixie" you are located. I don't think they are that far east. I have seen ringtails in the wild while hunting in Del Rio. They are absolutly gorgeous animals.
 
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