Mysterious Creature Sighted in North Carolina

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A creature resembling a fox, with short brown hair and a long cat-like tail, has been spotted in central North Carolina since Christmas, leading to speculation about its identity. Bill Kurdian, who first reported the sightings, faced skepticism from others who thought it was just a dog. However, a biologist suggested it could be a red fox with a genetic condition that causes hair loss. The discussion includes various theories about the creature's origins, including the possibility of it being a bizarre hybrid or a unique mutation. Participants also share personal anecdotes about unusual animal sightings, highlighting the intrigue surrounding this mysterious creature.
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Okay, this seems to be on the level so... Please forgive if I end up eating crow on this one.

...About the size of a fox, but with short brown hair and a long cat-like tail, it looked more like an animal in a National Geographic spread out of Africa than any critter native to the woods of central North Carolina.

He's seen the creature off and on since about Christmas, with it wandering up several nights in a row, then disappearing for awhile.

Though Gayle Kurdian could vouch for her husband, when Bill Kurdian talked about the animal, people scoffed that it was just a dog.

"Everybody thought I was crazy," said Kurdian, the vice president of Matlab in Asheboro.

But Kurdian, an avid outdoorsman, got proof. [continued]

http://www.news-record.com/news/local/rand/creature_060304.htm

[PLAIN]http://www.news-record.com/graphics/june/creature060304.jpg
 
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Holy crap, weird.

It looks like it was mutated (the fish from the Power Plant in Simpsons).

Very, very odd.

It looks like a large fox, to me. Even a hybrid of a dog-fox? As dumb as it sounds, it looks like a fox with a German Shepard's tail.

The article says it may be an exotic animal outside of North America.

:confused:
 
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The face resembles a fox, but the legs are too long and the tail is wrong.
 
That is a strange looking critter. Could just be a really bizarre mutt of a dog (like if you mixed a chihuahua with a greyhound or something wacky like that). Or a great job with Photoshop ;-) Guess nobody will know until it's captured or someone recognizes the photo and calls in, "Hey, that's my dog!"
 
Tribdog? Is that you?
 
its obviously a jack-o-lope =)
 
Since Dagenais asked about this and in lieu of the animal mystery theme at hand, I thought to recycle this thread. The jpg in the original post still works.

Unfortunately the main story has gone to the archives and now requires a fee. The story orignates in North Carolina.
 
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Here is the original photo
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4512/creature0603041lq.jpg

A current story
The slender creature has a kangaroo-shaped head, big upright ears, and a long ratlike tail. From a distance the animal looks hairless, but closer inspection reveals that its coat is a sleek grayish brown.

...Perry Sumner, a biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said it's likely a red fox with a rare genetic condition known as Sampson, an abnormality in which the animal lacks a layer of fur called guard hair. [continued]
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0321_060321_tyco_fox.html
 
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Thanks for the update. At least that's a clearer picture they posted now. The ears certainly look fox-like, but without the poofy fur, it's just so hard to tell by looks alone.
 
  • #10
Mama? Is that you?
 

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  • #11
hypatia said:
Mama? Is that you?
Oh how adorable! Who is it hypatia?
 
  • #12
Moonbear said:
Thanks for the update. At least that's a clearer picture they posted now. The ears certainly look fox-like, but without the poofy fur, it's just so hard to tell by looks alone.

Just by stance and body structure I would have said a fox. I see them regularly on my bike commute to work. I usually get that broadside stance with the prick ears and high head just before they disappear.
 
  • #13
Its my doggy ..Foxy Lady
 
  • #14
hypatia said:
Its my doggy ..Foxy Lady
She's a cutie! :approve:
 
  • #15
hypatia said:
Its my doggy ..Foxy Lady

Yes, very cute. That's a Pembroke Welsch Corgi is it not? I've always wanted one of those. How would you describe her personality, trainability? Any interaction with young kids?
 
  • #16
Maybe someone captured a fox, shaved it, and then released it again.

That could be a terrific prank. Imagine when word of the "amazing new short-haired fox" hits the media!

- Warren
 
  • #17
Oooh, I'm going to do that.

Too bad Texas made it against the law to graffiti another person's cow. I've been at a loss to know what to do.
 
  • #18
Mk said:
Too bad Texas made it against the law to graffiti another person's cow. I've been at a loss to know what to do.

So you can graffiti your own cows then...?:rolleyes: :biggrin:
 
  • #19
As for strange animals, the first time that I ever saw a nutria was at about three paces. It was standing right there, right in front of me, and I had absolutely no idea what it was. As it turned out it was a very large nutria, which added to the confusion. Later I learned that they were brought to Oregon from the SE US back in the fifties as part of a failed financial fur fling. But I had never even heard of a nutria, much less seen one.
 
  • #20
Doc, your right she's a Corgi. And she is a working dog, and hates to have nothing to do. Luckly, I have 2 cats that she can herd around the house all day while I'm at work. But she does require at least one good walk a day.
She is good with other animals, and small children. She allows my 6 yr old grandson to do just about anything to her. Neighborhood kids come play with her too.
Corgies are not brave dogs that will rush into anything. She will inspect...make little gruff sounds..make sure the herd{cats} are safe, and will actually coax them into safty{under the bed}, then come and get me.
Shes a very sturdy dog, that travels well.

I was walking in the woods a few years back when I saw what I thought was a albino Wolverine. When I told the rangers about it, they told me Wolverines didnt live in Michigan. About 2 years latter, someone cought one about a mile away from where I saw it. Sooooo our state animal does live here..lol.
 
  • #21
Ivan Seeking said:
. Later I learned that they were brought to Oregon from the SE US back in the fifties as part of a failed financial fur fling. But I had never even heard of a nutria, much less seen one.

When my sister-in-law was down in New Orleans doing culinary stuff at the Marriot she went to a chef's dinner where they were trying dishes using nutria. She said it was pretty good.
 

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