Beaver - seal - dog ???

Marauder · 11-06-2010, 07:53 PM

Hi Everyone,
Well, this is weird, Wednesday about 9am my hubby and I saw something swimming about 150 ft from shore, he thought it was a beaver and so did I then I thought no way - a dog, but then it dove. We are in Meredith Bay opposite Grouse Point. Never have I seen anything with a smooth wake so LARGE swimming on a calm morning that with binoculars we could not figure out what it was. Has anybody seen anything unsusal like this?
Thanks!!

Greene's Basin Girl · 11-06-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marauder

Hi Everyone,
Well, this is weird, Wednesday about 9am my hubby and I saw something swimming about 150 ft from shore, he thought it was a beaver and so did I then I thought no way - a dog, but then it dove. We are in Meredith Bay opposite Grouse Point. Never have I seen anything with a smooth wake so LARGE swimming on a calm morning that with binoculars we could not figure out what it was. Has anybody seen anything unsusal like this?
Thanks!!

It could have been an otter. If it was smaller it may have been a mink.

Lakesrider · 11-07-2010, 11:15 AM

Little did you know there is a seal dog....

Mexican Seal Dog.....

Invasive species...if you catch my drift.....

Dog's Ear · 11-07-2010, 04:05 PM

Could it have been a Fisher Cat? We had one on Whortleberry Island earlier this year. I was up early and out on the deck. I heard a very loud splash as something jumped in the water. ( I actually thought it could have been a deer, that is how big the splash was). When I checked it out I saw this fisher cat which was pretty big. It swam across toward Moultonborough Neck. Their head is a weird shape.

NoBozo · 11-07-2010, 06:43 PM

Lucky this sighting wasn't near Rattlesnake..what with winter coming up and all....

NB

Marauder · 11-07-2010, 07:42 PM

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your responses (some funny), it was too small to have been a mink, and it did slide very easily in the water and then dove, not to be seen by us again.

SteveA · 11-07-2010, 08:37 PM

the video isn't great at first, but about 20 seconds in it clears up.

These are "river otters' (according to the video title) at Lake Holland, Montana.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...1468395132837#

Airedale1 · 11-07-2010, 08:39 PM

Maybe a Muskrat?

First image was taken at Meredith Bay and second at Back Bay in Wolfeboro.

GTO · 11-07-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marauder

Hi Everyone,
Well, this is weird, Wednesday about 9am my hubby and I saw something swimming about 150 ft from shore, he thought it was a beaver and so did I then I thought no way - a dog, but then it dove. We are in Meredith Bay opposite Grouse Point. Never have I seen anything with a smooth wake so LARGE swimming on a calm morning that with binoculars we could not figure out what it was. Has anybody seen anything unsusal like this?
Thanks!!

Why rule out a beaver? I've seen some big ones in the lake before. When spooked, they slap their tail on the surface and dive

NH_boater · 11-07-2010, 11:00 PM

I fished virtually everyday in Alton Bay through the summer. I would see the same otter 5 to 6 days a week. I was out there daily at 5 to 6 am, in a kayak and a fly rod, which is nearly silent. He always came down the bay, dove under or near me, and then headed up the Merrymeeting. There were days where he got to within a few feet of me before he dove. He could have easily avoided me but I think he got comfortable after so many encounters. He is a pretty big otter from my estimation; maybe the size of a small to medium size dog.

Not sure if you saw an otter or not but your description of him and wake seem consistent. First time a saw him, by the way, I thought he was a dog until he got closer.

Argie's Wife · 11-07-2010, 11:38 PM

There's a lot of otters around here... we have a small stream that runs on two borders of our property and into Merry Meeting River. I've found otter tracks in the early spring, when the snow is still on the ground. Otter aren't that small... they can run between 25-40" long.

http://www.nhfishandwildlife.com/weasels.php

Grant · 11-09-2010, 03:24 PM

We have had an establish a "latrine" in our boathouse each year. I've missed it by minutes a few times. The biggest clue is the ample scat and greasy discharge it leaves all over the decking. It loves to poop on top of an 8x8 beam I use to prop canoe, etc., during the winter. This year, I hadn't after opening up in May until late September, when he decided it time to return. He's been with us for about five years now. He/she is very stealthy, and so has been dubbed "Ninja Otter." I even named a homebrewed IPA after it.

ApS · 11-09-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marauder

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your responses (some funny), it was too small to have been a mink, and it did slide very easily in the water and then dove, not to be seen by us again.

When diving from a swimming position, Otters will first raise up prominently in their middle. (Beavers less-so.)

Sometimes Beavers will dive with a very loud slap, as previously stated. As to size, those two could be confused. (Binoculars tend to make the object bigger "in Mind" as well as "to the eye".)

I've only seen one mink near the water's edge. He ran downhill to the shoreline—ignored my presence—hopped up to a rock, dove, and swam off underwater.

This particular mink was no bigger than a young red squirrel.

I wrote here about the first muskrats I've seen (ever) last Spring: Except that the lake was very calm, I would have missed these two muskrats. Their "mewing" vocalizations weren't obvious, and would have been missed altogether had there been any wind.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=7613

Grant · 11-17-2010, 11:13 AM

Beavers dive. When startled, they'll slap their big, flat tail on the surface as they dive & make a noise.

Marauder · 11-17-2010, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airedale1

Maybe a Muskrat?

First image was taken at Meredith Bay and second at Back Bay in Wolfeboro.

I THINK THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!

dpg · 02-21-2011, 12:05 PM

it was too small to have been a mink

To small to be a Mink but you thought it was a dog? I may be mistaken but aren't Minks rather small (some squirrel sized?)

AkwaMarina · 02-21-2011, 01:45 PM

NH Nessie
http://gizmodo.com/#!5765192/kayaker...sing-cellphone

Coolbreeze · 02-21-2011, 03:53 PM

...nice beaver

lake king · 01-05-2012, 01:54 PM

maybe its a sea lion

11-06-2010, 07:53 PM	#1
Marauder Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Meredith and FL Posts: 99 Thanks: 175 Thanked 29 Times in 17 Posts	Beaver - seal - dog ??? Hi Everyone, Well, this is weird, Wednesday about 9am my hubby and I saw something swimming about 150 ft from shore, he thought it was a beaver and so did I then I thought no way - a dog, but then it dove. We are in Meredith Bay opposite Grouse Point. Never have I seen anything with a smooth wake so LARGE swimming on a calm morning that with binoculars we could not figure out what it was. Has anybody seen anything unsusal like this? Thanks!!

11-07-2010, 07:42 PM	#6
Marauder Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Meredith and FL Posts: 99 Thanks: 175 Thanked 29 Times in 17 Posts	Beaver/Fisher Cat Hi Everyone, Thanks for your responses (some funny), it was too small to have been a mink, and it did slide very easily in the water and then dove, not to be seen by us again.

11-07-2010, 08:37 PM	#7
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	Did it look like this... the video isn't great at first, but about 20 seconds in it clears up. These are "river otters' (according to the video title) at Lake Holland, Montana. http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...1468395132837# __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

11-07-2010, 08:39 PM	#8
Airedale1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laconia Posts: 595 Thanks: 557 Thanked 1,569 Times in 274 Posts	Maybe a Muskrat? First image was taken at Meredith Bay and second at Back Bay in Wolfeboro. __________________ "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Nelson Henderson (1865-1943)

11-07-2010, 11:00 PM	#10
NH_boater Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 298 Thanks: 14 Thanked 147 Times in 62 Posts	Otter I fished virtually everyday in Alton Bay through the summer. I would see the same otter 5 to 6 days a week. I was out there daily at 5 to 6 am, in a kayak and a fly rod, which is nearly silent. He always came down the bay, dove under or near me, and then headed up the Merrymeeting. There were days where he got to within a few feet of me before he dove. He could have easily avoided me but I think he got comfortable after so many encounters. He is a pretty big otter from my estimation; maybe the size of a small to medium size dog. Not sure if you saw an otter or not but your description of him and wake seem consistent. First time a saw him, by the way, I thought he was a dog until he got closer.

11-07-2010, 11:15 AM	#3
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Little did you know there is a seal dog.... Mexican Seal Dog..... Invasive species...if you catch my drift.....

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Lakesrider For This Useful Post:
Gatto Nero (11-19-2010), Rattlesnake Gal (11-08-2010)

11-07-2010, 04:05 PM	#4
Dog's Ear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Whortleberry Island Posts: 81 Thanks: 130 Thanked 20 Times in 10 Posts	Could it have been a Fisher Cat? We had one on Whortleberry Island earlier this year. I was up early and out on the deck. I heard a very loud splash as something jumped in the water. ( I actually thought it could have been a deer, that is how big the splash was). When I checked it out I saw this fisher cat which was pretty big. It swam across toward Moultonborough Neck. Their head is a weird shape.

The Following User Says Thank You to Dog's Ear For This Useful Post:
Marauder (11-07-2010)

11-07-2010, 06:43 PM	#5
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Lucky this sighting wasn't near Rattlesnake..what with winter coming up and all.... NB

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Airedale1 For This Useful Post:
Argie's Wife (11-07-2010), Marauder (11-17-2010)

11-07-2010, 11:38 PM	#11
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	There's a lot of otters around here... we have a small stream that runs on two borders of our property and into Merry Meeting River. I've found otter tracks in the early spring, when the snow is still on the ground. Otter aren't that small... they can run between 25-40" long. http://www.nhfishandwildlife.com/weasels.php

11-09-2010, 03:24 PM	#12
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,485 Thanks: 337 Thanked 212 Times in 116 Posts	We have had an establish a "latrine" in our boathouse each year. I've missed it by minutes a few times. The biggest clue is the ample scat and greasy discharge it leaves all over the decking. It loves to poop on top of an 8x8 beam I use to prop canoe, etc., during the winter. This year, I hadn't after opening up in May until late September, when he decided it time to return. He's been with us for about five years now. He/she is very stealthy, and so has been dubbed "Ninja Otter." I even named a homebrewed IPA after it. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

The Following User Says Thank You to ApS For This Useful Post:
Rattlesnake Gal (11-10-2010)

11-17-2010, 11:13 AM	#14
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,485 Thanks: 337 Thanked 212 Times in 116 Posts	Beavers dive. When startled, they'll slap their big, flat tail on the surface as they dive & make a noise. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

02-21-2011, 12:05 PM	#16
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	it was too small to have been a mink To small to be a Mink but you thought it was a dog? I may be mistaken but aren't Minks rather small (some squirrel sized?)

02-21-2011, 01:45 PM	#17
AkwaMarina Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 97 Thanks: 11 Thanked 89 Times in 28 Posts	Could help but think of NH Nessie http://gizmodo.com/#!5765192/kayaker...sing-cellphone

02-21-2011, 03:53 PM	#18
Coolbreeze Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 332 Thanks: 0 Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts	...nice beaver

01-05-2012, 01:54 PM	#19
lake king Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	maybe its a sea lion