willwalks Posted October 16, 2017 #1 Share Posted October 16, 2017 (edited) I have seen a fast-moving monkey/raccoon animal and have no idea what it could be. - 1.5 - 2 feet high (not including large and full tail) - Disproportionately long and "human-like" arms - Moves primarily on two legs - Disproportionately large head - Certainly not a squirrel unless squirrels have gone from small and cute to massive and spooky The first time was in a rural lane walking home from a day's hiking. A friend and I saw two of these animals emerge from a hedgerow ahead of us and then proceed us along the lane for a time before running very fast from view. The second time I was alone, again walking at night, and I saw one in some light undergrowth near the path. Does anyone have any insight into what they could be? It has been dark both times but I have approximated their general size and shape in the attached image. My best description is that of a monkey/raccoon but of course in the UK we have no native monkeys or raccoons or any animals which really resemble either. On the first siting we named them goblins and laughed it off as just a random strange experience (which we still laugh about to this day), but after a second encounter my curiosity has truly been piqued. Any insight, anyone? Edited October 16, 2017 by willwalks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandsomeGorilla Posted October 16, 2017 #2 Share Posted October 16, 2017 That couldn't look or sound more like a squirrel if you tried. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willwalks Posted October 16, 2017 Author #3 Share Posted October 16, 2017 I hear ya Not Your Huckleberry, there is definitely a squirrel-esque quality BUT squirrels don't stand as tall as your knee, have long almost person-like arms or walk about on two legs. (perhaps the outline of a human I have in the picture to show the scale is too faint. easy mistake to make) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Wearer of Hats Posted October 16, 2017 #4 Share Posted October 16, 2017 It’s a squirrel, a grey one by the sounds of things which are rare in the UK, The red squirrel has driven them out of many habitats, get onto the Woodsland Trust, they might be interested in the sightings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplybill Posted October 16, 2017 #5 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Your description sounds like a marmot or a groundhog, but they're only native to North America. Do you anything similar in the U.K.? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereologist Posted October 16, 2017 #6 Share Posted October 16, 2017 It does look like a squirrel. Squirrels do sit upright. The prairie dog is a common ground squirrel that sits upright. A simmilar behavior is seen in this European ground squirrel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_ground_squirrel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Wearer of Hats Posted October 16, 2017 #7 Share Posted October 16, 2017 They can be 30cm tall, which fits with your picture BTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrover Posted October 16, 2017 #8 Share Posted October 16, 2017 3 minutes ago, Sir Wearer of Hats said: It’s a squirrel, a grey one by the sounds of things which are rare in the UK, The red squirrel has driven them out of many habitats, get onto the Woodsland Trust, they might be interested in the sightings. Pssst, it's the other way round. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PersonFromPorlock Posted October 16, 2017 #9 Share Posted October 16, 2017 You might want to consider the American Fox Squirrel. According to Wikipedia, their total body length measures 45 to 70 cm (17.7 to 27.6 in), tail length is 20 to 33 cm (7.9 to 13.0 in), and they range in weight from 500 to 1,000 grams (1.1 to 2.2 lb). Pelt color is variable, but some are gray. How one would get to the UK I have no idea, but it doesn't seem impossible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereologist Posted October 16, 2017 #10 Share Posted October 16, 2017 People take squirrels from place to place. New Jersey has the black squirrels with tasseled ears which are native to the Rockies. Some photo of Abert's squirrel can be seen in this link. http://csuhort.blogspot.com/2015/10/native-tree-squirrels.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redefining Success Posted October 16, 2017 #11 Share Posted October 16, 2017 (edited) I've seen some pretty big squirrels tbh. Kids in cars hang around local country parks, plenty of food waste, squirrel heaven. Parked up at a country park with my youngest and eldest, 7 squirrels came up to the car and even jumped onto the step, one even climbed into the door pocket, sat quite happily while youngest threw a couple of scraps. They were definitely a healthy size. I've seen plenty that size and possibly a bit bigger. I would go for a very stockily built and healthy squirrel. Google image search "big grey squirrel" few images in there is a pic of 3 varying in size, largest appears to be around 15" not including the tail, possibly 16 if stretched straight. Edited October 16, 2017 by Redefining Success Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrover Posted October 17, 2017 #12 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I'm not trying to be funny, but I am struggling with this one. We have a physical description of a squirrel, a picture of a squirrel, a location in two known squirrel habitats, which given their distance means unless this squirrel is following the OP, it's two different squirrels, which further tells us it's a widespread and common type of squirrel. I've thought about it, and my money's on it being a squirrel. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt221 Posted October 17, 2017 #13 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I once saw a little racoon dog over here in the uk it ran down the road in front of me and my wife and dogds obviously an escapee but it was still a bit of a surprise oddly enough the dogs took no notice of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piney Posted October 24, 2017 #14 Share Posted October 24, 2017 On 10/16/2017 at 7:09 PM, PersonFromPorlock said: You might want to consider the American Fox Squirrel. According to Wikipedia, their total body length measures 45 to 70 cm (17.7 to 27.6 in), tail length is 20 to 33 cm (7.9 to 13.0 in), and they range in weight from 500 to 1,000 grams (1.1 to 2.2 lb). Pelt color is variable, but some are gray. How one would get to the UK I have no idea, but it doesn't seem impossible. I was going to say a fox squirrel. They eat robins sometimes and have weird moving habits. I've seen them do some goofy things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anonymous12321 Posted November 10, 2017 #15 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Huh. That does look a lot like a squirrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSilhouette Posted November 11, 2017 #16 Share Posted November 11, 2017 (edited) On 10/16/2017 at 1:40 PM, willwalks said: I have seen a fast-moving monkey/raccoon animal and have no idea what it could be. - 1.5 - 2 feet high (not including large and full tail) - Disproportionately long and "human-like" arms - Moves primarily on two legs - Disproportionately large head - Certainly not a squirrel unless squirrels have gone from small and cute to massive and spooky The first time was in a rural lane walking home from a day's hiking. A friend and I saw two of these animals emerge from a hedgerow ahead of us and then proceed us along the lane for a time before running very fast from view. The second time I was alone, again walking at night, and I saw one in some light undergrowth near the path. Does anyone have any insight into what they could be? It has been dark both times but I have approximated their general size and shape in the attached image. My best description is that of a monkey/raccoon but of course in the UK we have no native monkeys or raccoons or any animals which really resemble either. On the first siting we named them goblins and laughed it off as just a random strange experience (which we still laugh about to this day), but after a second encounter my curiosity has truly been piqued. Any insight, anyone? Fisher Cat, member of the weasel family I think.. Edited November 11, 2017 by SSilhouette 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereologist Posted November 11, 2017 #17 Share Posted November 11, 2017 The stoat is possible. The fisher is a NA relative. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer77 Posted November 11, 2017 #18 Share Posted November 11, 2017 (edited) nvm Edited November 11, 2017 by Farmer77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSilhouette Posted November 11, 2017 #19 Share Posted November 11, 2017 (edited) 12 hours ago, stereologist said: The stoat is possible. The fisher is a NA relative. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat Not big enough. And it the head isn't large enough like the fisher cat's is. Stoat's arms are way too short too; about half the length of a fisher cat's. I read the description in the OP and fisher cat fit the bill. Except for the color. But they're found all over the US in varying colors so ? Maybe in his region they're lighter. Here's what the OP said again: - 1.5 - 2 feet high (not including large and full tail) - Disproportionately long and "human-like" arms - Moves primarily on two legs - Disproportionately large head Now here's a stoat for comparison to the fisher cat. See the small head and the short arms? Edited November 11, 2017 by SSilhouette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt221 Posted November 11, 2017 #20 Share Posted November 11, 2017 How about a mink or a pine marten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrover Posted November 11, 2017 #21 Share Posted November 11, 2017 8 minutes ago, Matt221 said: How about a mink or a pine marten Not really, the link has a similar leg body ratio to a stoat, or any of the other Mustelids, same with the pine Martin. 1 hour ago, SSilhouette said: Not big enough. And it the head isn't large enough like the fisher cat's is. Stoat's arms are way too short too; about half the length of a fisher cat's. I read the description in the OP and fisher cat fit the bill. Except for the color. But they're found all over the US in varying colors so ? Maybe in his region they're lighter. Here's what the OP said again: - 1.5 - 2 feet high (not including large and full tail) - Disproportionately long and "human-like" arms - Moves primarily on two legs - Disproportionately large head Now here's a stoat for comparison to the fisher cat. See the small head and the short arms? There are no fisher cats over here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt221 Posted November 11, 2017 #22 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Anything here ? http://www.hows.org.uk/inter/birds/exotics/gbm.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSilhouette Posted November 11, 2017 #23 Share Posted November 11, 2017 (edited) 34 minutes ago, oldrover said: There are no fisher cats over here. Well "over here" may not apply to where the OP saw the critters. The Fisher Cat looks most like the description and the nickname "Monkey-raccoon" . Edited November 11, 2017 by SSilhouette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrover Posted November 11, 2017 #24 Share Posted November 11, 2017 16 minutes ago, SSilhouette said: Well "over here" may not apply to where the OP saw the critters. The Fisher Cat looks most like the description and the nickname "Monkey-raccoon" . Weĺl, fisher cats are a North American species, and if you read the original post it gives locations, Cornwall, and South Wales, which are both in the British Isles, where I am. So, again I say there are no fisher cats over here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSilhouette Posted November 11, 2017 #25 Share Posted November 11, 2017 11 minutes ago, oldrover said: Weĺl, fisher cats are a North American species, and if you read the original post it gives locations, Cornwall, and South Wales, which are both in the British Isles, where I am. So, again I say there are no fisher cats over here. Or are there? Possibly introduced? But then again, people do use fake locations when they post on the net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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