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Name This Animal

what is this animal?

7 years ago

I have no photo - while I was driving in an urban area of Roanoke, va I saw an animal about the size of a possum - perhaps a little longer and faster moving. It was a solid dark brown and had a slightly pointed snout and fairly short legs. It was rainy and about noon.

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Comments (13)

Marcy
7 years ago
Armadillo perhaps? I don't know if they're in that area but the have recently been identified here in southern Illinois.
rfloydg5
Original Author
7 years ago
I'm certain it was not an armadillo - it had thick, brown fur. Thank you, though, for thinking about it.
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I know this was from a long time ago.... It IS caterpillar scat that has rehydrated from the water in the bowl. cater pillars "launch" it either 4 or 40 times their body length. I can't remember which. This is thought to be done to keep predators like wasps from finding their nest and larvae. I had one bounce off my head and land on the patio table. I thought it was a squirrel pellet till I noticed the lobed, extruded look to it and searched till I found what it was. Probably will not harm the animals.... It's plant matter.
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This is NOT a ferret; it is indeed a mink, but not a wild mink. This is a ranched mink with a color mutation bred on fur farms, so this animal was either an escapee from a fur farm, or was intentionally released by Animal Rights activists. Ranched mink lack survival skills to exist in the wild, and have been dependent upon human care for their entire lives, so this mink is seeking out the only source of food it knows-humans. It will not survive on its own, and while misguided and ignorant activists believe that they are "helping" fur farm animals by "liberating" them(as they ultimately want to "liberate" ALL animals, your dogs and cats included), they are in fact condemning most of these animals to a slow, painful death by starvation. NOTE: just because this mink is the product of many, many generations of captive selective breeding, this does NOT mean it is docile and tame! Ranched mink are still very prone to biting viciously. They can and will inflict serious injuries to dogs or other pets that mess with them or anyone who tries to handle them. Check around and find any fur farms in your area and find out if any have experienced recent break-ins and vandalism, including releases of animals, and you will most likely find where this mink, which I believe is a "Pastel" variety, came from.
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I have a cat and it is cat poo ... they like to go out mainly night time that is probably why you don't see them doing their business
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Thank you. That confirms the conclusion my friend came to after her cat caught a mouse and brought it in the house.
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Marcy
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
It had a fat possum body but brown with short legs and a snout.... could it have been a baby bear? Sorry I'm grasping at straws! LOL! I'm guessing if you're familiar with the area you would know what a cub looks like. As I said I was grasping!
rfloydg5
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks, but I think the overall shape was wrong for a baby bear. I wish I had been able to get a photo, but I was driving and only saw it run across the road.
shearersusan68
7 years ago
Without a photo, here are a few guesses based on size and description: 1. Otter 2. Mink 3. Groundhog
shearersusan68
7 years ago
Without a photo, here are a few guesses based on size and description: 1. Otter 2. Mink 3. Groundhog
User
7 years ago
Why not a raccoon? If it was wet it you might not see the contrast of the mask and tail banding.
rfloydg5
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks - I suppose it might have been a wet raccoon, but it was at noon - that's odd.
joyfulsu
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Sounds a lot like a Mink. Was there water nearby?
rfloydg5
Original Author
7 years ago
That looks closer than anything so far - Do mink come this far south? No large bodies of water close, nor lakes - always some streams close in Roanoke, Va
rfloydg5
Original Author
7 years ago
I looked at your map more closely and it looks like they could be here and we are right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway - That could be it - Thanks, joyfulsu
joyfulsu
7 years ago
According to this map, they haven't been recorded in Roanoke county yet, but that's not saying they aren't around. :)

Another option is the Fisher. Evidently its back in va! I believe these are bigger than mink. Otter would also be bigger.
rfloydg5
Original Author
7 years ago
That's very interesting - thanks for the insight.

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