What kind of cat is this?

[Darrell]

My game cam captured this critter walking beside my driveway a couple of nights ago. I've seen bobcat here, and at first glance I figured this was a bobcat, but look at the tail!  I've seen several cougar in the wild, and it appears that this guy has that distinctive black muzzle of a cougar, but look at that tail!

Is it a mutant bobcat with a giant tail?  Possible a second cat behind the first?  A second (much poorer) photo only shows one animal, and I'd take that for a racoon. But the first pic sure doesn't look like a coon to me.

Thanks!

 

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by Darrell

[Darrell]

The other photo

 

 

[Alleycat72]

Fox

[xsubsailor]

Yep...... that be a fox

[ShaunM]

Gray Fox

[hipower]

Have had a few around here over the years, and I agree. It definitely looks like an adult fox.

[Darrell]

Thanks guys!  Fox didn't even occur to me.  I appreciate the input from the experts!

Once in the early morning (back in WA) I saw a litter of red fox kits playing in a field. I stopped my motorcycle and whistled at them, and to my surprise the came toward me! I realized that I'd made a mistake, fox shouldn't think people are their friends, so I waved my arms and yelled as scared them away.  That was a very cool experience!

[Darrell]

That's a good sized fox. This pic is of a fairly large coyote, I've seen him in the daytime, in the same spot for perspective.

[DaveTN]

We have a Fox that runs around our neighborhood (in the city) like he owns the place. Been around for a few months. Sets off my cameras every once in a while, stops traffic walking across the street, and openly runs around in the day time. When I first saw him I was concerned he may be rabid. But I don’t think an animal can have rabies and live for months?? He definitely isn’t bothered by people or cars. Cars will probably be his downfall.

[Grayfox54]

That's my cousin! 

[Alleycat72]

1 hour ago, DaveTN said:

We have a Fox that runs around our neighborhood (in the city) like he owns the place. Been around for a few months. Sets off my cameras every once in a while, stops traffic walking across the street, and openly runs around in the day time. When I first saw him I was concerned he may be rabid. But I don’t think an animal can have rabies and live for months?? He definitely isn’t bothered by people or cars. Cars will probably be his downfall.

We had one in my old neighborhood that would go around playing with people's dogs. Everyone told me about the evil coyote that was trying to kill all the dogs. I was given permission in the whole neighborhood so I could kill the enemy. After about 3 days, I told them I killed the coyote and a cute little fox had started running around afterwards. Everyone was was happy with that.  A year earlier the same people wanted me to kill the cougar that was running around. LOL

[gregintenn]

I haven’t seen a gray fox around here in years. See red ones regularly.

[Darrell]

I think I must be on his regular route.   I may put a dish of cat food out there and see if I can get some closer pics. 

My property shares a boundary with the Catoosa wildlife area, so I expect to see plenty of critters in the future.

 

[RED333]

10 hours ago, Darrell said:

I may put a dish of cat food out there and see if I can get some closer pics. 

Not a good idea, you will get raccoons, opossum and like looking for a free meal, neighbor has an opossum issue because of cat food.

[E4 No More]

On 11/14/2020 at 9:29 AM, DaveTN said:

We have a Fox that runs around our neighborhood (in the city) like he owns the place. Been around for a few months. Sets off my cameras every once in a while, stops traffic walking across the street, and openly runs around in the day time. When I first saw him I was concerned he may be rabid. But I don’t think an animal can have rabies and live for months?? He definitely isn’t bothered by people or cars. Cars will probably be his downfall.

Back when I was a LEO in Missouri, there was a family of red fox that lived between a strip mall and a small city park where a creek ran though. There were also beaver living in that creek. The damned beaver startled the crap out of me one night while performing a door check on the back of the mall. I must have disturbed the little prick because it slapped its tail on the water real loud making me jump out of my skin! 

Edited November 17, 2020 by E4 No More

[MP5_Rizzo]

50 minutes ago, E4 No More said:

The damned beaver startled the crap out of me one night while performing a door check on the back of the mall. I must have disturbed the little prick because it slapped its tail on the water real loud making me jump out of my skin! 

Take up duck hunting in flooded timber.  After moving around the timber during predawn hours a few times you'll get use to it.

[Darrell]

Here's another animal that I can't identify. The picture isn't too hot, this camera goes to B&W at night. I had to look at this photo compared to another one several times before I was even able to see the critter. It's looking right at the camera, left side of the tree that's on the right of the frame.  Smaller than the fox, I think. There are a couple of other pics that show it just as a slightly darker spot on the ground. 

 

[Hozzie]

Raccoon

[Darrell]

Coon huh?  It's not like I haven't seen a lot of racoons. I guess it's going to take a while before I get to where I recognize stuff on these cameras.  Thanks, Hozzie!

[DaveTN]

On 11/22/2020 at 7:58 AM, Darrell said:

Here's another animal that I can't identify. The picture isn't too hot, this camera goes to B&W at night. I had to look at this photo compared to another one several times before I was even able to see the critter. It's looking right at the camera, left side of the tree that's on the right of the frame.  Smaller than the fox, I think. There are a couple of other pics that show it just as a slightly darker spot on the ground. 

 

I lightened it up a little, so you can see better.

[Darrell]

I KNEW it!!!

I've had a couple of face-to-face encounters with cougars, but that would wake me up!

[Darrell]

You know what, Dave... I'm going to copy that photo and show it to my wife tomorrow as if it came off the camera. She'll never cross the porch again!

[Darrell]

And a bobcat. He was following right behind the fox, but about 10 minutes behind. The fox is still around, so I guess the bobcat never caught him.