BS: Strange Creature in Maine

Subject: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:35 PM

http://news.aol.co.uk/article.adp?id=20060817060009990009

doesn't look much different from any of the other inhabitants of Maine imho ...

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: leeneia
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:44 PM

Looks like a boar of some kind to me. If it were found in Wisconsin, I'd say it was a hodag.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Peace
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:58 PM

'After reviewing photos of the carcass, Coleman said he was bothered by the animal's ears and snout. It reminded him of a case years ago in northern Maine in which an animal shot by a hunter could not be identified. In the end, wildlife officials got a DNA analysis that showed the animal was a rare wolf-dog hybrid, he said.

Mike O'Donnell, who is married to Michelle O'Donnell, said the animal looked "half-rodent, half-dog" to him.

It was charcoal gray, weighed between 40 and 50 pounds and had a bushy tail, a short snout, short ears and curled fangs hanging over its lips, he said. It looked like "something out of a Stephen King story".'

Doesn't Stephen King live in Maine? Herrrrrreeeeee doggie doggie doggie . . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: DougR
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 06:00 PM

Oh. I thought this thread was about Kendall maybe. :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 06:07 PM

I just wondered which strange creature they were talking about now.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 06:39 PM

Looks like a dog with a deformed head. The teeth don't look like dog's teeth though, and they don't even look like a carnivore's teeth to me.

I've seen wolf-dogs and coy-dogs, and they pretty much look like wolf-dogs and coy-dogs.

Could be a mutation, could be a creative assemblage of parts, could be a PhotoShopportunity. I hope I hear what the final analysis is after the experts look at it.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: bobad
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 06:56 PM

Why, it's just a little ol' werewolf, that's all.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:10 PM

Wow! This is perfect for Stephen King country. It's some kind of were-beast or something that has crossed over from some evil dimension just a shiver or two shy of this reality!

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Alba
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:24 PM

Thought to be most likely a Feral Dog.
Pretty vicious creatures and totally unafraid of Humans.
Pretty strange looking specimen though.

Jude
[ a Feral Scot now living in Maine, oh and Guest visit the backwoods anytime, we like having a Guest or two for Supper round these parts]

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:35 PM

Ten years ago I knew a professional falconer here in Ontario...a young German guy who is marvelous at handling birds of prey. He told me there are packs of feral dogs in the back country, and he has been hunting them, because they attack pets and livestock. He puts up bait and sits in the bush all night waiting for a chance to get a shot at one. He says they are very clever, fully aware of the capabilities of humans, very hard to get a shot at (he has killed a few, though), and quite dangerous...if you are not carrying a gun. They're basically canine outlaw gangs. He said the biggest, toughest dog leads the pack...and they will send a smaller, less important dog in to check the bait. He generally only gets a shot at these underling dogs...because they usually manage to detect his presence one way or another before the rest of the pack moves in...in which case he shoots them immediately.

I have not seen Matt in at least 10 years now, and I'm wondering if he ever got the pack leader of those dogs or not.

Matt looked like the young Christopher Walken. Very intense guy.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Kaleea
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:37 PM

freaky stuff goin on. any nuclear power plants nearby?

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:39 PM

I honestly don't think it's very scary looking - just odd. And if the critter had really bad abscesed teeth, it would account for both the big lower part of the head and the smell. If it had been a critter a-la King, it would have had much sharper teeth, glowing red eyes and wouldn't have looked so pitiful.

I was working in public health, and once we were asked to call animal control because what they though was a rabid cat was terrorizing the dental clinic accross the street. We called, and I went over there. The cat was walking funny, it couldn't stop going around in circles and was meowing to break your heart. It was trying to approach people, which scared the crap out of them. Animal Control wanted to shoot it, and I convinced them not to. They wanted to jam it into a cage, and I convinced them to coax ut in. I'd run the rabies control program, and although I'd never seen a case of rabies personally, I'd seen film of animals and people with it, and I was fairly sure this cat didn't have it. It didn't. Turned out this beautiful, friendly cat had been hit by a car, had a bad head injury, and had to be euthanized.

I think that people can be extremely cruel when they're scared. I've seen that at Mudcat and in real life. I've done it myself. In the case of the creepy critter, it's easier to see this 'hybryid' as a monster than an injured or sick animal or something that could have been helped.

Or it could have been the result of a black lab getting too friendly with a goat. I just can't wait to hear what the necropsy turns up.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: kendall
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:40 PM

It's a friggin dog, people.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:42 PM

'Tis not, you spoilsport! It's a were-monster! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Alba
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 08:08 PM

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 08:15 PM

More in the Washington Post.
And here, from a FOX news source (you can tell it's FOX because they have an unrelated photo of the gaping jaw of a dog with this story):

Mutant Beast Found Dead in Maine

By Drake La Monica

An animal found dead after being hit by a car in Turner, Maine has been described as looking part-rodent, and part-dog. Some people in the area are convinced that the strange animal solves the local legend of a mysterious bloodthirsty creature.

Rick Schrepper lives in Turner, where he says the thing killed local pets and livestock. "I honestly believe somebody's puppy got loose and bred with a coyote or a wolf," Schrepper said, "and it has grown and has been terrorizing us for years."

Wildlife officials tested the beast's DNA and say it's a rare wolf-dog hybrid.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Peace
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 08:16 PM

Well, who else BUT FOX could cover this story from the canine-family perspective?

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 08:41 PM

Can't see ears, can't see snout.....probably a feral dog.....hungry and with abcessed teeth.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: curmudgeon
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 09:04 PM

Ranger 1, where are you?

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: kendall
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 09:21 PM

Fish & Wildlife agent here. It's a feral dog.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Peace
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 09:26 PM

Feral dogs--would they be attracted to magnets?

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: bobad
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 09:38 PM

You mean like Donald Trump?

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Tweed
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 10:06 PM

"It was evil, evil looking. And it had a horrible stench I will never forget... We locked eyes for a few seconds and then it took off."
- Witness

Very weird lookin' dog. Looks like an R.Crumb cartoon representation of a dog that came to life and then got hit by a damned car.

It's tongue seems to be blue. I believe the DNA tests will confirm my contention that it is obviously a mix of chow-chow,boston terrier,baboon and hyena, AND THAT the great-grandson of the brilliant Dr. Moreau has abandoned the tropics for the stark Maine countryside to continue his research.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 10:51 PM

I dunno' Tweed.....I think its khandu after spending s few weeks in Yankeeland and going mad......

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:12 PM

Well, I'm a former veterinary technician, and I think it's a dog, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:16 PM

Yea...some sort of dog or dog mix. NO pig in there.....sheesh.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: snarky
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:17 PM

or one of kendall's old girlfriends...

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:18 PM

IT'S A WERE-MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!   (in best panicky scream voice...)

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: dianavan
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 02:00 AM

It looks like a dead dog with rotten teeth, to me.

Some ugly mutt.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Becca72
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 09:05 AM

My sister's bassett hound had a horrible smell, too...

And you people thought Stephen King made this shit up. HA!

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Scoville
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 09:43 AM

Clearly a chupacabra.




Just kidding. Looks like one ugly-ass chow mix to me. You wouldn't believe how ugly a dog can be if you mix the wrong breeds. When I was a vet tech, somebody brought in a chow/shar-pei puppy that looked like a giant, hairy, raisin. Could hardly tell which end was which.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:26 AM

Poor thing. It was probably an adorable chubby little puppy that everyone would have foung room for. Neuter your pets people.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Grab
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:31 AM

Terrible smell? Our friend's Scottie should be banned under the rules about chemical weapons. And that's before it farts - a dog-fart from that beastie could clear Baghdad in seconds.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Ernest
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:52 AM

As already suggested by someone on one of the sites this could be an Akita Inu or mongrel of one. They are a Japanese breed.

Loook her:

http://www.akita-in-not.de/

go to "vermittelte Hunde" and scroll down to the one called "Bronco". He is black and white, but othewise very similar. See the head, the tail etc.

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Ernest
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 11:00 AM

http://www.wuac.info/StandardE.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 11:18 AM

Poor little mite....

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 11:45 AM

Surely it's a cross between a Wolf and a Poodle (the dreaded "Woodle"...)

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: GUEST,Bee
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 11:49 AM

I imagine being dead (maybe long enough to be a bit swollen) makes it look a little worse, as well, but it sure looks like a dog to me.

Hey, Little Hawk, up-thread there: I don't doubt it's possible that wild dog packs are roaming the back country, but your friend's description would fit the big coyotes that live here (Maritimes). Being a furriner, and a birdman, would he recognize a coyote if he saw one? The Eastern coyotes are much larger than the Western ones, and they do pack up, often. They have quite a lot of wolf behaviors, and there are some respectable naturalists who think they may be a result of coyotes breeding with the last of the Algonquin Red Wolves.

Coyotes here eat cats, frequently, and will lure and kill domestic dogs, have been seen packing up to kill deer, and sometimes make quite a racket at night.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:46 PM

There are packs of coyotes around here, and I've heard them howling sometimes, but no, Matt would not be mistaken. He's a very experienced woodsman. These are packs of formerly domesticated dogs he's speaking of...and the pack may contain quite a mixture of larger and smaller breeds, although not the really small breeds...they aren't tough enough to live long among the others. It's possible, I would think, that some of these dogs have crossbred with wolves and coyotes to some extent.

Feral dogs are usually dogs who have been turned loose or abandoned by human owners...or they're the descendants of those animals. Matt says some unwanted dogs get dumped in the country by people from towns and cities. Some find someone to take them in. Some turn wild.

There aren't any coyotes right near where I live...it's too settled around here, but if you drive a mere 15 or 20 miles north or sort of northwest you can find some extensive rough wilderness areas, and there you will find them. They're not easy to see, because they are active mostly after dark. I have seen them on a moonlit night at a friends place once, running around out in the meadows. I haven't seen any feral dogs. One friend of mine saw a wolf on one occasion though, and that was in daylight.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 12:47 PM

It's a bird-dog!
G.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: bobad
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:10 PM

Bee

It has been recently found through genetic testing that the eastern coyote is a hybrid between the western coyote and grey wolf. They are around twice the size of the western coyote and are quite plentiful in eastern Ontario where I live.

"though coyotes are often mistaken for a domestic dog hybrid, recent genetic research has attributed the eastern coyote's larger size and unique behavioral characteristics to interbreeding with Canadian gray wolves. Unlike the wolf or domestic dog, coyotes run with their tail pointing down."

From : http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Wildlife_profiles/profile_eastern_coyote.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:36 PM

It looks like Lon Chaney to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Becca72
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 02:30 PM

the dreaded "Woodle"


LOL!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: gnu
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 02:33 PM

Here in New Brunswick, they pack and they run with their tails up. My old man used to call them Eastern Brush Wolves. They eat a lot of deer and they will take moose calves.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Scoville
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 03:08 PM

Fostered a 1/4 chow-3/4 pit bull that looked a whole lot like that, actually. Short muzzle, small ears. He wasn't ferocious but then he wasn't feral, either. And he was about that size.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 03:48 PM

Well, our good governor hasn't ordered an evacuation of Turner yet, or a quarantine of its entire population, some 4315 frightened souls. I think Kendall and Jeri have their heads screwed on correctly with their comments. I don't think there has been any DNA testing as of yet. The Maine Fisheries & Wildlife folks ignored all appeals to get involved. But I'm sure CNN has a crew on the ground sniffing for clues.

The photo I saw in the papers reminded me of a Hyeana, which are as rare in Maine as warewolves.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Becca72
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 04:01 PM

From what I read in the Portland Press Herald yesterday IF&W isn't going to be doing any testing, as they basically left the carcass out for the vultures and it was pretty well picked clean. I got the impression they just disposed of it.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060817beast.shtml

Sorry, don't know how to make a blue clicky thingie...

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: GUEST,Bee
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 04:42 PM

Thanks, Bobad, for that DNA update - Grey Wolfotes they are then! The Maritime naturalists were speculating at the time, and they guessed Red Wolf because that species was under so much pressure, which is when you get attempts to crossbreed with the nearest likely other species. Orcas and various dolphins do this, as well.

Little Hawk, I'm glad to hear you are confident - just heard a story the other night about a lady farmer who settled here from the US out trying to shoot an eagle that was taking her tame ducks from time to time. Dunno what she thought it was. My friend educated her - gently (hey, she had a gun).

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 04:59 PM

Confident? You mean about the Were-Monster?

I think it would be a real shame if it was just an ordinary dog. Stephen King doesn't live around there for nothing, you know. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Creature in Maine
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 05:12 PM

Sounds like they got some tissue samples before they left it: From the Bangor Daly News: "Sections of the Turner animal's tissue are being sent off for DNA testing." Doesn't the screaming in the night bit sound more like a wildcat? Any large wild cats in Maine?