View Full Version : Strange Animal Walking Through Yard???


BigFish
05-17-2008, 04:58 AM
I just this moment saw a very strange animal walking through our back yard and have no idea what it was?? We have a Fishercat living out there in the trees, but it is black (as I think they all are?). This was not a fox or coyote, not a skunk, raccoon or possum? It was light in color, about the size of a fox....definitely not a fox though? Looked like a giant Ferret???:huh::confused:

Any ideas?

Raven
05-17-2008, 05:14 AM
that came to mind was an Otter

they look kinda tan when dry....

i wanted to ask how the tail looked

or moved ...it's position ...

BigFish
05-17-2008, 05:19 AM
Fluffy......kind of straight out. Doubt it was an otter...in Hanover? Do Fishercats come in colors other than black?

Raven
05-17-2008, 05:25 AM
yes they can look brown and not black

they have a range of colors

animals like that need a fluffy tail

as sort of a sleeping bag for sleeping

as it stores body heat...

kinda works like down feathers on geese

BigFish
05-17-2008, 05:28 AM
Coat was patchy white, tan, brown.....fluffy.

Raven
05-17-2008, 05:38 AM
that indicates tufts of fur and or shedding
and it helps with camouflage...

but white? thats very weird

unless it was a freak of Nature

albinism happens...

how long did the legs look...stubby and stout?

and what was the gait .... also ..like with
a fox they walk ... with a little bounce up and down
sort of like a trotting style...

where as a animal in the weasel group sways
or is doing the vertical snake motion

or ambulates quite differently...

Adam_777
05-17-2008, 08:43 AM
A picture would of helped.Can you draw us one ? A young Yetti possibly venturing in to what he believes yetti territory ? Where you walking around with your shirt off at the time of the incident ?

Swimmer
05-17-2008, 11:51 AM
Coyote pup!!!!!!!!!!

Nebe
05-17-2008, 02:09 PM
otter is my vote, but their fur is not fluffy.. hmmm.

Joe
05-17-2008, 04:00 PM
Bobcat? We have those, they can look kind of ratty depending on where they are at in their life cycle.

BigFish
05-17-2008, 06:01 PM
I was told it might have been a Mink....that they are in fact native to New England....it was my fist thought as it looked like one but I did not know they are common here in NE?

justplugit
05-17-2008, 06:07 PM
Sounds like a mink, or maybe a weasle.

Any ponds or stone walls around, Larry?

BigFish
05-17-2008, 06:36 PM
Yeah.....couple brooks nearby!

stripersnipr
05-17-2008, 07:14 PM
i thought Minks were really small, like a Ferrett. I'm guessing mangey Fox.

justplugit
05-17-2008, 07:53 PM
Minks like water and weasles stone fences. SS is right most minks are only 5-10 inches long.

I've seen some pretty big weasles, bigger than a cat.

I checked weasle out on The Free Dictionary and they talk about a North American Black Footed Ferret that is white in the winter and changes coat colors.

It's on the endangered species list and very few in the wild. Maybe?

No drilling for oil on your land. :doh: :D

Slammer223
05-23-2008, 06:49 PM
A Sheltie.

Flaptail
05-23-2008, 06:53 PM
Shoot it and take a picture.

MakoMike
05-27-2008, 04:52 PM
Minks like water and weasles stone fences. SS is right most minks are only 5-10 inches long.

I've seen some pretty big weasles, bigger than a cat.

I checked weasle out on The Free Dictionary and they talk about a North American Black Footed Ferret that is white in the winter and changes coat colors.

It's on the endangered species list and very few in the wild. Maybe?

No drilling for oil on your land. :doh: :D


Black Footed Ferrets live out west where they prey on the prarie dog populations. I'll bet on a weasle

RIJIMMY
05-28-2008, 09:12 AM
neighbors cat?

FishermanTim
05-28-2008, 10:39 AM
Did it look like a fat ferret/weasel? Did it run/walk like a ferret, which runs in an "inch-worm" like manner where it arches its back in order to run.
It could be a groundhog.
I have a groundhog that frequents our backyard. The adult looked like a pudgy ferret/otter. They have a preference for clover, so I don't have an issue with them passing through our yard.

MakoMike
05-28-2008, 11:39 AM
Did it look like a fat ferret/weasel? Did it run/walk like a ferret, which runs in an "inch-worm" like manner where it arches its back in order to run.
It could be a groundhog.
I have a groundhog that frequents our backyard. The adult looked like a pudgy ferret/otter. They have a preference for clover, so I don't have an issue with them passing through our yard.

They als adore roses. I had one eat two bushes before i "caught" him.

Swimmer
05-29-2008, 11:51 AM
Newborn sasquatch!

After all, its Larry's backyard.

JohnR
05-29-2008, 03:21 PM
TreeFace Eating Squirrel

stiff tip
05-29-2008, 06:29 PM
maybe