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Original poster

Can you please help me work out what animal I just saw

221 replies

YellowJellyfish · 05/02/2020 00:19

In the UK driving down the narrow country roads when this animal ran/waddled across the road.

It was bigger than a cat, smaller than a badger, slower than a fox.

It kind of waddled, was quite round and had no tail.

I really can't think what kind of mammal it was.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
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22
StormBaby · 05/02/2020 08:24

I think it sounds like a Coypu. They were only trapped to extinction in the late 80s. Maybe a few were left?

SW16 · 05/02/2020 08:19

The last coypu?

A water vole? They are bigger and humpier than rats. A big fat one.

ColumbaPalumbus · 05/02/2020 08:14

Otter! They kind of waddle/hop but do have a tail. Perhaps you missed the tail.

sashh · 05/02/2020 08:06

op

They are rare but you can get 'red' badgers. They are a sort of pale ginger, in the dark you might not see the white stripes on the face.

NearLifeExperience · 05/02/2020 08:00

It may be a pine marten (which are quite rare but making a comeback) or a mink (which are far more common, especially if you were near water.
Both are about the right size, but also have tails... maybe there was a tail tucked away somewhere on the creature you saw?

twirlypoos · 05/02/2020 08:00

One of these?
(Disclaimer no idea what it is, it was on here a while back)

Can you please help me work out what animal I just saw
Winesalot · 05/02/2020 07:56

I like StartupRepair’s suggestion. With a dash cam? Would that be too much to ask Blush

StartupRepair · 05/02/2020 07:49

Can you spend the next few days driving up and down that same stretch of road?

5zeds · 05/02/2020 07:44

Bear cub?

Winesalot · 05/02/2020 07:37

I know Balloonslayer!

Badgers? In my decade or more living in the UK, I am yet to see one. I think these are mythical beasts like Australian dropbears.

EnidBlyton · 05/02/2020 07:35

or a deer?
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/mammals/

EnidBlyton · 05/02/2020 07:32

A badger in disguise?

EnidBlyton · 05/02/2020 07:29

why not a badger though?

Frouby · 05/02/2020 07:28

A very pregnant and waddling escaped pygmy goat maybe? They are very cute but very naughty. They are tiny, not much bigger than a spaniel and look huge and round when pregnant especially when pregnant.

BalloonSlayer · 05/02/2020 07:27

That's interesting, Winesalot, so they are coming back in Ireland! I love the way the article is all official then ends - "if you see a coypu, call Danny O'Keefe." Grin

EnidBlyton · 05/02/2020 07:26

was it a piglet?

Winesalot · 05/02/2020 07:21

It’s said. Not ‘I’.

Winesalot · 05/02/2020 07:21

A coypu? I had to look that up and I found this. I said they can get to one metre. Eye opening. I am learning lots about pet and farm escape animals today. Thanks OP.

m.independent.ie/business/farming/forestry-enviro/coypu-rodents-may-be-cute-but-the-damage-they-do-can-be-deadly-35742475.html

BalloonSlayer · 05/02/2020 07:14

how about a polecat?

Or a coypu? Although apparently there are none in the Uk any more.

DeborahAnnabelToo · 05/02/2020 07:02

I agree with @Witchend it's definitely a haggis. Must have escaped from a Burns Supper on Jan 25th.

Winesalot · 05/02/2020 06:56

Was it a vole? Like a water vole? Or a mole? Or too small for what you saw.

Having a huge laugh a wombats in the UK!! (And from a friend’s experience, they do huge damage to a car) and I would laugh at wallaby’s roaming UK but you occasionally hear of them being kept as pets outside of Australia and they are prone to escape.

I’d love to see a Capybara though.

Seaandsand83 · 05/02/2020 06:37

Weasel?

flouncyfanny · 05/02/2020 06:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Witchend · 05/02/2020 06:25

From the diagram... Definitely a Haggis. Grin