So, went down and helped my mom with some things around the house and made her diner for mother's day, Sunday, and I got a whim to walk around the back yard along the creek/woods to wax nostalgic.
I hear a rustling in the overgrowth and I go to a portion of the yard that runs all the way up to a ledge carved by the creek when I see it: A small furry mammal bounding through the brush.
I stood still and studied it, keenly. My first thought was a raccoon, it was roughly the size of a mature raccoon, but it was probably a little too big and lacked any stripes or bushy tail. It had more of a weasel shaped body, brown and black and long, though it was very thick around the middle. Around 40lbs or so, it honestly looked just like a wolverine, though how one would find itself in south-central Kansas would be beyond me.
The creature moved in bounds, so it probably had pretty short legs, it would jump up and over the brush around it in a tiring fashion. Far from graceful, it would jump about 30 yards at a time before stopping to turn around and glance back at me to see if I was still watching. Eventually it found some trees and bushes to hide under; though I could still it looking at me (at this point about 80 yards away) it had a black face as well.
Not thinking it resembled any local fauna I was familiar with, I thought maybe it was a stray cat or dog but it was not very canine looking and would have to be a very large cat. Plus it acted too wild to be a stray, I wouldn’t expect even a feral cat to flip out at seeing a person standing on the opposite bank of a creek 30 yards away.
I mentioned the animal to my mom, and she said it was a marmot. An animal I’m familiar with, I’d only ever seen them in the mountains, and usually donning very light sandy blonde hair.
Anyone have any suggestions on this mystery animal?
Mystery animal solved, its a GD louisiana swamp rat! I since I saw it first last spring, i don't think it hitched a ride with any ULL fans, but apparently they have been known to travel up the Arkansas from Oklahoma... should i call the city to trap it or just commando out and take it for a trophy?
This is Derby KS, Spring creek, about 2 miles up from where it drains into the Arkansas.