A Frightening and Mysterious Animal
Check out this terrifying “mystery creature” recently photographed near Seattle. Boing Boing readers are asked to offer any suggestions as to what it could be.
Just outside of Seattle, WA my roommate Ed recently took a photo of this . . . thing. We have no idea what animal this is but it was seemingly deaf and/or dumb as Ed got extremely close to it before it slunk away. There are two tufts of hair on it but, otherwise, it was completely bald.
Eek.
I’ll post an update if Boing Boing readers come up with an answer.
Kevin said,
July 16, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Looks like a sick and denuded squirrel based on the hind legs and the naked, but elongated tail…
Patrick Redding said,
July 16, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Hard to reckon given the angle, but it looks like a *very* young capybara: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara)… I have no idea why one would be roaming around in the urban wilds of the Pacific Northwest. But they’re not unheard of in small animal parks or larger botanical gardens intended to simulate specific biomes. Maybe it escaped, or was stolen and abandoned.
Aaron said,
July 16, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Looks like a baby squirrel to me. You’re not supposed to see them on the ground. They are supposed to stay up in their nest in the trees until more mature.
AskTheAdmin said,
July 16, 2007 at 1:37 pm
We vote baby squirrel!
http://www.askTheAdmin.Com
Of you figure it out let us know!
aggrodude said,
July 16, 2007 at 2:25 pm
That is one freaky little thing. I vote for a chupacabra - Mexican goat sucker. Run and hide!
John Baronian said,
July 16, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Ther is breed of guinea pigs, the hairless guinea pig
( http://www.cavyconcepts.com/ ) . The hind paws look very much like a guinea pig. Guinea pigs can, and do stabalize themselves on their hind paws when eating. The most disturbing thing (other than the sight of a hairless rodent) is the ears look a little odd for a guinea pig.
I had a short hair that got sick and lost his hair and the skin looked exactly like that.
Linda said,
July 16, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I think it’s newborn (or hairless) wombat.
:)
Noddy93 said,
July 16, 2007 at 3:08 pm
I believe it’s Jeremy Hilary Boob Ph.D.
eris said,
July 16, 2007 at 4:06 pm
naked mole rat? There’s a settlement in the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.
rationalpsychic said,
July 16, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Has Cheneyspawn been guessed already? Kinda cute though–in a mange-infested way.
Top Posts « WordPress.com said,
July 16, 2007 at 4:59 pm
[...] A Frightening and Mysterious Animal Check out this terrifying “mystery creature” recently photographed near Seattle. Boing Boing readers are […] [...]
John said,
July 16, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I’m with Linda. I would bet it’s a hairless or baby wombat.
trainmaster01 said,
July 16, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I’m with Noddy93: it’s the nowhere man from the sea of holes. A wombat seems the most realistic choice — or a miniature hippopotamus (the ears). We have squirrels roaming all over the apartment complex and the neigbor’s cat got a baby squirrel. Didn’t know they could squeal so loud but it didn’t look anything like that. I’ve been to PSC and didn’t see a mole rat that looked like that. Maybe it’s advance publicity for the Simpson’s Movie.
valentin10 said,
July 17, 2007 at 5:31 am
Very good blog, very rich nice pictures and articles, congratulations !!!
ClapSo said,
July 18, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I do believe that is an evangelical, republican, right wing Zaznoos bushie. They are becoming extremely rare in this day and age. I won’t miss em when they’re gone…
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
Gina said,
January 5, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Its a pocket-hippo. I’m not sure what the scientific name is, but my sister just got one. its mostly hairless, has flappy ears and squeaks like a guinea pig. Apparently they’re rare. I only know one lady who breeds them.
Emily said,
January 5, 2008 at 12:19 pm
A pocket-hippo! Haha, what a cute name.
somuch said,
February 9, 2008 at 7:52 am
maybe it’s baby’s squirle
tony said,
February 29, 2008 at 9:26 pm
It looks like a really sick squirrel, looks as if the hair has fallen off of it! YUK! ” it was seemingly deaf and/or dumb as Ed got extremely close to it before it slunk away. There are two tufts of hair on it but, otherwise, it was completely bald.” Thats also why I think its a sick animal as any other animal would have noticed you first and made a quick exit, only a very sickly animal would let you get that close without notice then “slink away” any other critter would bolt away! If you see it again (which I doubt as its probably dead) stay away from it and call animal control ASAP.
dave winthorp said,
May 16, 2008 at 9:26 am
omg it looks like a baby ig gon wrong woteva it is u shud of captured it nd showed it sum1 coz to me that is a fukin pig or sumat