Unknown mammal (Nature thread)

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 7, 2021.

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  1. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    I was in Monmouth the other day and driving down a really narrow country lane.

    As i rounded a corner I thought a fox was trotting in the middle of the road, but as my car got a little closer, it turned left to dive into a gap in the hedgerow.

    As it did it looked straight towards me. Its body was a little bit reddish (hence the fox confusion), its front was a creamy light colour, but its face was completely black.

    Anyone any idea what it might have been?
     
    DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 7, 2021
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  2. Andy Mac

    Andy Mac Well-Known Member

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    A friend of mine volunteers in the Lakes / Dales / Scottish Highlands with all things forestry management related. Tree-felling, deer control, controlled burning etc. There is a massive concern about the effect Feral Cats are having on wildlife up there, but he said people would be surprised at the increase in recent years of feral Dogs too. Maybe it was a dog?
     
    Andy Mac, Sep 7, 2021
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  3. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    The Beast of Bodmin on it's jollies.
     
    Stephen Dawson, Sep 7, 2021
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  4. Boaty Tyke

    Boaty Tyke Well-Known Member

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    Colouring matches that of a pine marten which are being reintroduced in Wales, but they are more like a big otter size so can't see how you could mistake if for a fox. Prob an older fox cub as this time of year they are going out on their own, they come in various shades.
     
    Boaty Tyke, Sep 7, 2021
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  5. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    It definitely wasn't a dog. Its face was pointy like a weasel/stoat. Thought it might have been a polecat, but it was the completely black face that threw me.
     
    DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 7, 2021
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  6. Red

    RedVesp Guest

    El Chupacabra...
     
    RedVesp, Sep 7, 2021
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  7. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    upload_2021-9-7_10-31-6.jpeg
     
    Stephen Dawson, Sep 7, 2021
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  8. Gimson&theBarnsleys

    Gimson&theBarnsleys Well-Known Member

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    The ghost of Geronimo inhabiting a polecat.
     
    Gimson&theBarnsleys, Sep 7, 2021
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  9. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    It was hard to gauge how big it was to be honest as it was at a decent distance away. It seemed to be trotting like a fox, but the leap into the hedgerow was definitely more weasel/stoat like.

    I've never seen a pine marten live so I don't really know how big they are or how long its legs may appear.
     
    DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 7, 2021
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  10. Deafening Silence

    Deafening Silence Well-Known Member

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    I wonder if it was a Muntjac. I understand they've been introduced to certain areas and would combine some of the features you described.

    [​IMG]
     
    Deafening Silence, Sep 7, 2021
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  11. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    Stephen Dawson, Sep 7, 2021
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  12. Boaty Tyke

    Boaty Tyke Well-Known Member

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    Boaty Tyke, Sep 7, 2021
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  13. Sco

    Scoff Well-Known Member

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    According to Wiki, a red fox (Vulpus Vulpus) can be between 35-50cm high and 45-90cm long, and a European pine marten (martes martes) can be up to 50cm long with a 25cm tail. So a big pine marten could be a similar size to a smaller fox - although the population in Wales is small it isn't impossible. I did see one in Scotland about 10-15 years ago though.
     
    Scoff, Sep 7, 2021
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  14. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    Stephen Dawson, Sep 7, 2021
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  15. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    I've been googling since Andy Macs post and I think it may well have been a pine marten. I've thought of them as more weasel size with short legs, but its the only thing that has as close to a completely black face with a light bib/front.

    Also seems theres been several efforts to reintroduce them around Gloucester, mid wales and the Forest of Dean. I thought they were pretty much solely in Scotland, so it certainly gives it a possibility it was a pine marten.

    The other lovely sight... a sparrowhawk carrying prey flying at low level while we were sat outside having a drink as the sun started to fade away.
     
    DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 7, 2021
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  16. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    Definitely wasn't that big.
     
    DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 7, 2021
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  17. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    This is it. You must learn to identify your creatures and not leave it to us to sort it. Easy....

    2nd-jane-barr-2-1024x818.jpg
     
    Mr Badger, Sep 7, 2021
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  18. TitusMagee

    TitusMagee Well-Known Member

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    Maybe it was a culturally insensitive fox :D
     
    TitusMagee, Sep 7, 2021
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  19. Dan

    DannyWilsonLovechild Well-Known Member

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    Don't be daft.... it didn't have a tag on its ear!!!
     
    DannyWilsonLovechild, Sep 7, 2021
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  20. Deafening Silence

    Deafening Silence Well-Known Member

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    They're not much bigger than a rabbit...
     

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    Deafening Silence, Sep 7, 2021
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