What animal is this?

Merrymeeting · 04-18-2015, 05:04 PM

I caught this today while taking photos of the Merrymeeting Lake ice-out. One of the only open areas on the lake right now.

A mink?

PaugusBayFireFighter · 04-18-2015, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

I caught this today while taking photos of the Merrymeeting Lake ice-out. One of the only open areas on the lake right now.

A mink?

I'm guessing a beaver. Looks like a weaselly whip tail but I think it's a paddle with a twist!

Slickcraft · 04-18-2015, 05:26 PM

Beaver

http://storage.wildobs.com/asorum/photos/IMG_1066.jpg

barefootbay · 04-18-2015, 07:23 PM

Muskrat. !!

Misha888 · 04-18-2015, 07:44 PM

Muscrat. The tail in the photo is slightly deceiving, but the pelt is what makes me believe it's the Muscrat. We have a few that are in the cove, as well as Mink and Beaver. Here is a horrible phone pic of the one who hangs around here. ~ Mother Nature's Zealot

Merrymeeting · 04-18-2015, 08:54 PM

I thought muskrat when I saw it.

I had already ruled out beaver. I also watched it swim up close and it didn't have a wide, flat tail. I've seen several beaver in the area, and it was definitely not a beaver.

But in the pictures of muskrats I found online, the ears didn't look quite right either.

Misha888 · 04-18-2015, 09:40 PM

himself as an otter perhaps to lose the stigma of being called a river rat?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

I thought muskrat when I saw it.

I had already ruled out beaver. I also watched it swim up close and it didn't have a wide, flat tail. I've seen several beaver in the area, and it was definitely not a beaver.

But in the pictures of muskrats I found online, the ears didn't look quite right either.

upthesaukee · 04-19-2015, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misha888

himself as an otter perhaps to lose the stigma of being called a river rat?

I saw him and his wife yesterday, and he wouldn't be swimming yet...the water is too cold.

Merrymeeting · 04-19-2015, 07:41 AM

Looking at a lot of online pictures, I think it was a river otter.

Misha888 · 04-19-2015, 08:20 AM

We need more pics. I'm sticking with Muskrat. The tail isn't fat enough for me . . . and how often do you hear that?

Have a blessed day! Ice is . . . well, that's another thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Looking at a lot of online pictures, I think it was a river otter.

Chickie · 04-19-2015, 08:59 AM

My bet is that it's a muskrat - seen a lot of them in my day. Definitely not an alligator.

kawishiwi · 04-19-2015, 04:02 PM

Doubtful its a beaver, definitely not an otter.
In Minnesota I've had otters try to warn me off a fishing spot and had a couple haul out by our canoes at a campsite...more slender, tighter fur.

Merrymeeting · 04-19-2015, 05:13 PM

A neighbor who has seen it multiple times says it is a muskrat.

Slickcraft · 04-19-2015, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

A neighbor who has seen it multiple times says it is a muskrat.

Were you able to hear Louis in the background?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vpuFYQwZ5o

camp guy · 04-19-2015, 08:19 PM

Definitely a muskrat, and it is swimming, not ramblin'

Accipiter290 · 04-20-2015, 08:09 AM

As has been stated many times in this thread now, it's definitely a muskrat

riverat · 04-21-2015, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misha888

himself as an otter perhaps to lose the stigma of being called a river rat?

What this about being called Riverat?

Misha888 · 04-21-2015, 07:39 AM

all wildlife, regardless of their name.

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverat

What this about being called Riverat?

NewHaHagirl · 05-02-2015, 05:05 AM

We saw one of these guys swim right in front of our dock last night, then under it, then over to the neighbors dock. We thought it was a beaver until it climb up on the neighbor's dock and we saw it's long thin tail. Impressive little swimmer! I guess my labs will have something new to chase other than chipmunks this summer! (No worries, they never catch anything!)

04-18-2015, 05:04 PM	#1
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	What animal is this? I caught this today while taking photos of the Merrymeeting Lake ice-out. One of the only open areas on the lake right now. A mink?

04-18-2015, 07:44 PM	#5
Misha888 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 340 Thanks: 280 Thanked 90 Times in 62 Posts	I second . . . Muscrat. The tail in the photo is slightly deceiving, but the pelt is what makes me believe it's the Muscrat. We have a few that are in the cove, as well as Mink and Beaver. Here is a horrible phone pic of the one who hangs around here. ~ Mother Nature's Zealot Attached Images __________________ ☮ _/♥\_ & (✿ˆ◡ˆ✿)

04-19-2015, 08:59 AM	#11
Chickie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 367 Thanks: 0 Thanked 67 Times in 38 Posts	muskrat My bet is that it's a muskrat - seen a lot of them in my day. Definitely not an alligator.

04-19-2015, 04:02 PM	#12
kawishiwi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 519 Thanks: 227 Thanked 167 Times in 108 Posts	Muskrat Doubtful its a beaver, definitely not an otter. In Minnesota I've had otters try to warn me off a fishing spot and had a couple haul out by our canoes at a campsite...more slender, tighter fur.

04-19-2015, 08:19 PM	#15
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,133 Thanks: 284 Thanked 480 Times in 271 Posts	What animal is this? Definitely a muskrat, and it is swimming, not ramblin'

04-18-2015, 05:26 PM	#3
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and West Alton Posts: 3,215 Thanks: 1,172 Thanked 2,000 Times in 914 Posts	Beaver http://storage.wildobs.com/asorum/photos/IMG_1066.jpg

04-18-2015, 07:23 PM	#4
barefootbay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 365 Thanks: 65 Thanked 88 Times in 63 Posts	Muskrat. !!

04-18-2015, 08:54 PM	#6
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	I thought muskrat when I saw it. I had already ruled out beaver. I also watched it swim up close and it didn't have a wide, flat tail. I've seen several beaver in the area, and it was definitely not a beaver. But in the pictures of muskrats I found online, the ears didn't look quite right either.

The Following User Says Thank You to upthesaukee For This Useful Post:
riverat (04-21-2015)

04-19-2015, 07:41 AM	#9
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	Looking at a lot of online pictures, I think it was a river otter.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Chickie For This Useful Post:
Jersey Ed (04-20-2015), Misha888 (04-19-2015)

04-19-2015, 05:13 PM	#13
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	A neighbor who has seen it multiple times says it is a muskrat.

The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
Greene's Basin Girl (04-20-2015)

04-20-2015, 08:09 AM	#16
Accipiter290 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Sleeper's Island Posts: 62 Thanks: 53 Thanked 145 Times in 25 Posts	As has been stated many times in this thread now, it's definitely a muskrat

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to riverat For This Useful Post:
Accipiter290 (04-21-2015), Misha888 (04-21-2015), upthesaukee (04-21-2015)

The Following User Says Thank You to Misha888 For This Useful Post:
upthesaukee (04-21-2015)

05-02-2015, 05:05 AM	#19
NewHaHagirl Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 30 Thanks: 24 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	We saw one of these guys swim right in front of our dock last night, then under it, then over to the neighbors dock. We thought it was a beaver until it climb up on the neighbor's dock and we saw it's long thin tail. Impressive little swimmer! I guess my labs will have something new to chase other than chipmunks this summer! (No worries, they never catch anything!)

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