Jaguarundi?!

[havoc]

Ok, has anyone ever heard of this animal??

Two weeks ago, my husband's 18 year old cousin was telling us about this "creature" she'd seen running across the road at night. It was nothing she'd ever seen before - kind of like a large cat with a really long tail, small, round head and small ears, with a distinctive way it moved.

Well, last night around 5pm, my husband calls me and says he just saw it. It was running across the road, so he wasn't able to get the phone out and take a picture in time. When he got home, he spent an hour on the computer trying to figure out what it was, and when he found it, he yelled, "That's it!!"

He's about 99% sure the thing he saw is a Jaguarundi. From what we read, they're mostly in South America and are rarely seen north of central Texas. So it's definitely not something native to this area. We're wondering if someone brought one here as a baby and let it go once it got to be too big to manage.

Anyway, he's calling DNR today to report what he & his cousin saw. Just wondering if anyone else out there has seen it. Both sightings were in Charles County.


http://www.nanettethorell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/jaguarundi1.jpg

 

[desertrat]

Ok, has anyone ever heard of this animal??

Two weeks ago, my husband's 18 year old cousin was telling us about this "creature" she'd seen running across the road at night. It was nothing she'd ever seen before - kind of like a large cat with a really long tail, small, round head and small ears, with a distinctive way it moved.

Well, last night around 5pm, my husband calls me and says he just saw it. It was running across the road, so he wasn't able to get the phone out and take a picture in time. When he got home, he spent an hour on the computer trying to figure out what it was, and when he found it, he yelled, "That's it!!"

He's about 99% sure the thing he saw is a Jaguarundi. From what we read, they're mostly in South America and are rarely seen north of central Texas. So it's definitely not something native to this area. We're wondering if someone brought one here as a baby and let it go once it got to be too big to manage.

Anyway, he's calling DNR today to report what he & his cousin saw. Just wondering if anyone else out there has seen it. Both sightings were in Charles County.


http://www.nanettethorell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/jaguarundi1.jpg

Heard of it, never seen one.

 

[imatard]

It was a bobcat.

 

[edinsomd]

Saw these critters in Panama:
Coatimundi - Ask.com Image Search

 

[edinsomd]

It was a bobcat.

Not with "...a really long tail..."

 

[TurboK9]

Ok, has anyone ever heard of this animal??

Two weeks ago, my husband's 18 year old cousin was telling us about this "creature" she'd seen running across the road at night. It was nothing she'd ever seen before - kind of like a large cat with a really long tail, small, round head and small ears, with a distinctive way it moved.

Well, last night around 5pm, my husband calls me and says he just saw it. It was running across the road, so he wasn't able to get the phone out and take a picture in time. When he got home, he spent an hour on the computer trying to figure out what it was, and when he found it, he yelled, "That's it!!"

He's about 99% sure the thing he saw is a Jaguarundi. From what we read, they're mostly in South America and are rarely seen north of central Texas. So it's definitely not something native to this area. We're wondering if someone brought one here as a baby and let it go once it got to be too big to manage.

Anyway, he's calling DNR today to report what he & his cousin saw. Just wondering if anyone else out there has seen it. Both sightings were in Charles County.


http://www.nanettethorell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/jaguarundi1.jpg

Just what we need around here, ANOTHER great big pussy....

 

[havoc]

It was a bobcat.

Nope, a bobcat's ears are too big and tail is too short.

 

[imatard]

Nope, a bobcat's ears are too big and tail is too short.

Probally a couger.

 

[GWguy]

Ok, has anyone ever heard of this animal??

Relative of the snipe, jackelope, and the chupracabra.

 

[mAlice]

Saw these critters in Panama:
Coatimundi - Ask.com Image Search

My moneys on this. Illegal exotic pets released into the wild.

 

[havoc]

Probally a couger.

Wrong, again. Compare pictures of cougars and Jaguarundis...the head & face are totally different. The jaguarandi's head almost looks like it's too small for it's body...some websites describe it as looking kind of like an otter. Hubby looked up cougars, too and said that definitely wasn't it.

 

[havoc]

My moneys on this. Illegal exotic pets released into the wild.

Your money is on it being a coatimundi, or on an exotic pet being released? I'll go with the exotic pet thing, but not the coatimundi. Coatimundi has a long, pointy face. Jaguarundi has a very round face/head...moreso even than a cougar or regular housecat.

 

[Aerogal]

So is it Jaguarundi season?

 

[Boomerang]

Jaguarundi

So, Where exactally was this seen at?

 

[chernmax]

Chupacabra...

 

[TurboK9]

Relative of the snipe, jackelope, and the chupracabra.

It's a Chulupa. Imported from Mexico, escaped from Taco Bell. A cross between a Chupacabra and an Oompa Loompa. Very vicious little suckers, you know you are in trouble when they start singing...

 

[havoc]

So, Where exactally was this seen at?

Hubby says top of Brandywine Road near Mattawoman Drive. Heading into a thicket area.

 

[imatard]

Hubby says top of Brandywine Road near Mattawoman Drive. Heading into a thicket area.

Pumas love to hide in thickets.

 

[havoc]

Pumas love to hide in thickets.

As do jaguarundis.

I realize the easy answer would be to assume it's something that would be more commonly associated with this area, but we already explored all the obvious answers and none of them match up with what they saw. Remember, when they each saw it, they both said it was like nothing they'd ever seen before. I wasn't there and didn't see it with my own eyes, but my husband spent over an hour on the computer looking up every possible animal it could be, and audibly exclaimed when he hit on the jaguarundi.

We are not pretending to be wildlife experts, but he knows what he saw and it was 100% not a cougar, puma, or bobcat. Google jaguarundi and look at the pictures, and compare them to the other things you've suggested. There is a noticeable difference.

 

[mAlice]

Your money is on it being a coatimundi, or on an exotic pet being released? I'll go with the exotic pet thing, but not the coatimundi. Coatimundi has a long, pointy face. Jaguarundi has a very round face/head...moreso even than a cougar or regular housecat.

Ya' know, after looking at some cougar and jagawhatsit, I think the differences are quite obvious.

I said Coatimundi because I heard someone local had a pair.