what is this on my game-cam?

[dinahmoe]

ok i am back

well, i reset the camera and i will check it in a couple of days.
i didn't get to see if there were any tracks because my heelers beat me to it and played in the mud and muck before i could get there.

i looked at some more photos and i still don't know for sure.
here is a comparison and it looks(like some else did) like the size of a large house cat.the only problem is the coloring.house cats are solid,striped or spotted.this one is a wild color-dark on top,light underneath and a black tipped tail.
the 3rd picture has a deer just in the background(middle-you can just see 1 eye glowing and legs)which now makes the animal look bigger.

this is the crow-notice the plant leaf at the crows tail,then look at the same spot on the 2nd photo that the animal is walking towards.

 

[DazeGoneBy]

OK, I think I have it. It's a CHUCACABRA. Duh, dun, duuuuuuuuun!

 

[EMaker]

Quote:
I don't think estimating size is all that helpful because the black/white/grey shades tend to alter depth perception. I do think it's bigger and stouter than a housecat, and honestly, I do think it's a very young cougar.

 

[Soaring Chicks]

While possible that it could have been a young fox the body & head shape is all wrong.
NO house cat that big.
Cougar it could be a young one.
Now let's be real here people import wild cats of all differant sizes for the pet trade.
There is wild cats that are grown at that size.
So there is other cats it could be.
I would keep the camera up and maybe get it closer to the action or get a better one.
If it's a young cougar them mom will show up with it sooner or later.
I would say wild cat family for sure but of what breed that is the question.
Cougars are in the east we have then here in wv.

 

[dretd]

Quote:
So you have stirred up many inquiring minds. Did you get prints and measurements yet?

Just for those who doubt there are cats that could look like this (a small cougar), I have seen several very large hybrids over the years that look very wild and pretty darned big. I found a link to the most likely suspect-- one called a Chausie Cat aka Stone Cougar--part Jungle Cat and Abyssinian. http://messybeast.com/small-hybrids/chaus-hybrids.htm I have seen more Ocicats, but the coloring is wrong as they are reliably spotted.

I hope dinahmoe can find the tracks because we can eliminate many of the guesses based on those.

Looks like I was typing while you posted. That second crow (boy it looks really large) photo makes the comparison even more obvious that this is a large cat in my opinion.

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
cool

 

[chickenpredatorkiller]

If it's a young cougar them mom will show up with it sooner or later.

 

[chickenpredatorkiller]

please disregard last message... I thought he said "My mom" not mom.....

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
So you have stirred up many inquiring minds. Did you get prints and measurements yet?

Just for those who doubt there are cats that could look like this (a small cougar), I have seen several very large hybrids over the years that look very wild and pretty darned big. I found a link to the most likely suspect-- one called a Chausie Cat aka Stone Cougar--part Jungle Cat and Abyssinian. http://messybeast.com/small-hybrids/chaus-hybrids.htm I have seen more Ocicats, but the coloring is wrong as they are reliably spotted.

I hope dinahmoe can find the tracks because we can eliminate many of the guesses based on those.

Looks like I was typing while you posted. That second crow (boy it looks really large) photo makes the comparison even more obvious that this is a large cat in my opinion.

i hope it is not some critter that someone has "freed".
why on earth would some one want to make a hybrid.my small cats are feirce enough when they want to be.
the biggest predators we have ,so far, are coyotes.i don't know how ya'll deal with cougars,badgers,wolverines or bears on a regular basis..we have a few bears,not many.

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
i don't want to run into any mom if she is protecting her "baby".