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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What did we see this afternoon?

270 replies

whatwasthiscritter · 07/11/2022 20:25

I have name changed as my other threads had medical things on them and this is completely identifying. I was driving from radstock towards Burlington Combe today at about 4.15 when we were going through some woods (marked with arrow on the map). Something ran ibfront of the car. I say ran but it almost stumbled/tumbled across the road from left to right. I only saw it in the road but my 17 year old Dd saw it then run up the bank in the trees on the right. We have no idea what we saw and the way it moved at first made me think it was a big sycamore leaf but as my DD saw it climb the bank this has been discounted. We have looked at endless photos of British wildlife etc but can't place it. The description is that is was a sandy/pale yellow colour (hence the leaf thought) it was bigger than a hedgehog or a rat but smaller than a hare. It was fast as it past the road between the car in front and mine and then climbed the bank. What on earth could it be?! It is made all the weirder because I saw a creature further along that road a couple of months ago that I can't work out either. Slightly cat like but much bigger and black, this time it was early morning and my Dd was asleep and doesn't believe me. My Dds only solution is that we keep passing through a magical wood (grasping at straws)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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LynetteScavo · 07/11/2022 22:10

http://www.wild-boar.co.uk/WILD-BOAR-POPULATION.htmlq]

A map of wild boar on the UK

whatwasthiscritter · 07/11/2022 22:14

We are also thinking it could have been a baby boar and are regretting not going back to get it. Also thanks to this thread I have learnt my 17 believes haggis' are actual animals 🙄

OP posts:
NowNumber5 · 07/11/2022 22:14

This?

What did we see this afternoon?
NooNooHead1981 · 07/11/2022 22:14

Wildebeest. The small ones.🤣🤣🤣🥴

Warmhandscoldheart · 07/11/2022 22:16

whatwasthiscritter

Could it have been a Capybara?

Bigbadmama · 07/11/2022 22:16

There have been many credible sightings of big cats in the UK. Some described as black, the size of a big dog or small pony, long body, long tail. Others described as sandy coloured, more like a Lynx or American Bob cat. You could have seen either of these.
Muntjac deer are also prolific in the UK, quite small, like little pigs.

LynetteScavo · 07/11/2022 22:16

Wouldn't a small hare be most likely (if boring?)

Propertyporn · 07/11/2022 22:16

DeanStockwooooo · 07/11/2022 21:33

Ahh @sheepandcaravan you agree with me, sp good to know I am not the only one that knows this is what @whatwasthiscritter saw

Good god, is that an actual creature? 😱

DietColaBreak · 07/11/2022 22:17

Rat?

Propertyporn · 07/11/2022 22:17

Definitely a small bison fleeing a sea monster.

justasking111 · 07/11/2022 22:19

Otter cub or mink

GigantosaurusRex · 07/11/2022 22:19

I've only read all of the OPs posts so this may have been mentioned but capybara? Someone local to me had an escapee last year so there are keepers in the UK.

What did we see this afternoon?
whatwasthiscritter · 07/11/2022 22:21

@Propertyporn well we have a sea monster in Weston super Mare so ...

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whatwasthiscritter · 07/11/2022 22:24

Capybara is way too big. My DD has gone to bed quite satisfied that it was a baby boar and that we should go find it. She won't accept the big cat though so I am on my own with that. It was the size of a large dog, longish tail and black. I'm so annoyed I didn't wake my DD up but it was too fast. I drive along the road 4 times a day so always look out for the 'cat' and now will be desperately looking for the new creature

OP posts:
changingroom · 07/11/2022 22:28

I live in MSN I have seen loads of rabbits with myxomatosis recently. Maybe one of those. They dont hop sort of a wierd crawly movement more like a cat.

LynetteScavo · 07/11/2022 22:30

@cardibach - see the OP (well her DD) is thinking small boar. Hare can be bloody massive. (70cm in the UK)

Tryfull · 07/11/2022 22:32

I'm convinced a saw a black panther in a forest in SE England recently. I was riding my horse who also freaked out about it. We often see deer but it was so much darker than a deer. I haven't told anyone about it, even my DH, as I know it sounds crazy!

Untitledsquatboulder · 07/11/2022 22:33

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 07/11/2022 20:29

Sounds like a panther. Plenty of sightings in the UK.

If size and colour don't matter then maybe it was a tiger? Or a blue whale.

whatwasthiscritter · 07/11/2022 22:34

@Tryfull everyone I told thought I was mad too. It doesn't help with it being so early in the morning

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whatwasthiscritter · 07/11/2022 22:35

@changingroom but are they still fast? I don't like the thought of lots of poorly rabbits about 😔

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MzHz · 07/11/2022 22:37

Soundofshuna · 07/11/2022 21:02

A mink?
I ran over a stoat on the M5 near you quite recently.( or possibly a weasel) I was rather sad!

Well which one is it? A weasel is weasily recognised and a stoat is stoatally different

badoom - tish

😂🤣

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/11/2022 22:38

Could have been a stoat - their winter coat is white (that's what ermine is), but often they have a yellowish tinge (as though they'd been pee'd on).

They can be rabbit sized - much bigger than weasels.

One of our cats caught one once - God knows how she managed to kill it, as they are savage buggers and she was just a little cat, but succeed she did.

SucksToBeYouHun · 07/11/2022 22:40

Definitely a ghost

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/11/2022 22:45

LynetteScavo · 07/11/2022 22:10

Shy but savage!

I am now worried because one of those red dots is practically on our doorstep.

Ellmau · 07/11/2022 22:45

My guess would be an escaped mink.