NGC quiz, what animal is this

[rocker59]

Porcupine

That's what I'm thinking.

[wrbix]

If in MN, then I’d say porcupine as well

[TOMB]

Around here in Central Connecticut we would probably call it a woodchuck which begs the question how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood

TOMB

[yogidozer]

As someone already commented, pehayes,  groundhogs/woodchucks hop two feet forward.
Usually out in daytime, rarely at night.
You could set up a 4 trap using an upside down wheelbarrow. Just need to check it as soon as they spring it.
That way you will not hurt the critter and you can get a better look at it.
Or just leave the camera up, maybe you'll get a better view.

[fotoguzzi]

Yes I'm in Minnesota (Scandia) we have had opossum sightings and my dog trapped one under a wheelbarrow, I didn't know what was under until I lifted it up and the possum was hissing and growling and showing teeth, I musta jumped 2 feet while restraining my dog. He waddled off in no kind of hurry. I guess that encounter was better than a porcupine for my dog
But I'm still going with the porcupine for now, the camera is always on so maybe he'll come back for another look. Opossum is my second guess, our woodchucks are bigger than what this thing looks like.

[cliffrod]

I'm still on with opossum for this guy and sorry about his lost tail.

First, when in a hurry, a groundhog or woodchuck (Marmota monax) will run or have a gallop gait like a horse.  Two legs at at time.  Watch the squirrels in your local park.  The woodchuck is just a big squirrel.  The opossum (Didelphis virginiana) however almost never runs under any circumstance.  They have a waddling, walking gait just like this one.

Second, a groundhog or woodchuck has feet that are black or brown, covered in fur, and blended directly with its leg fur.  The opossum has distinct white or fleshy naked toes in contrast with its feet.  There are several brief moments in this video where you can see the light-colored feet, especially left front.

The opossum appears very fierce with a long, gaping mouth and many teeth.  They very seldom bite and it is not a particularly strong, crushing bite.  Its just the hissing and gaping that are so fierce.  Watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpGwt_baExk
or this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USg_QsCfNmk

What you need to know is that scientific genus name, Didelphis.  Derived from Greek.  "Didelphis" means 'two vaginas' because that is how the female anatomy is shaped.  Actually, one bifurcated vagina.  I'll let you guess what the male has for sexual compatibility.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Very well said, Patrick. 

My wife has been teaching in the Environmental Education field for decades.  In recent years, after working with them as a rehabilitator, she has settled upon the very understudied and greatly misunderstood Virginia opossums -the only species and only marsupial native to North America-  as ideal for teaching & changing the opinions of young and old.    They're truly amazing animals.

Figured I could post a pic of our possum Mimi sitting on a Guzzi giving a shout out to her friend in the video, but we only got as far as the ottoman in front of me while Christmas lights were being hung.. 






We're all still kind of slacking off after the big eat yesterday...  She liked the chestnut dressing with a little bit of fresh cranberry.

[jcctx]

PORCUPINE~tho not sure of the spelling; my guess anyway! They used to wear us out in west Texas!!!

[fotoguzzi]

I found a few videos on line showing a porcupine walking and they do sorta walk like in my video but also have a distinctive tail that doesn't show in my video so maybe your right it's a possum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6JrjehsnIc

[Turin]

Must have gotten loose again.

[John A]

Brad he looks friendly enough, just grab him from behind. If he’s not friendly, toss him in the stewpot. It’ll be easy and mostly safe.

[fotoguzzi]

I could feed it to the monster that lives in our woods.

[slopokes]

Looks like the Jersey Devil who is lost….

[wrbix]

Very well said, Patrick. 

My wife has been teaching in the Environmental Education field for decades.  In recent years, after working with them as a rehabilitator, she has settled upon the very understudied and greatly misunderstood Virginia opossums -the only species and only marsupial native to North America-  as ideal for teaching & changing the opinions of young and old.    They're truly amazing animals.

Figured I could post a pic of our possum Mimi sitting on a Guzzi giving a shout out to her friend in the video, but we only got as far as the ottoman in front of me while Christmas lights were being hung.. 






We're all still kind of slacking off after the big eat yesterday...  She liked the chestnut dressing with a little bit of fresh cranberry.

They are cute until you see their teeth. Don’t know why such a docile critter needs such fearsome dentition 
My wife is currently on a traveling  nurse assignment at a hospital as far east in TN as one can get and had a patient's visitor show up with their pet ‘possum in a baby carriage. No one seemed the least bit surprised.

[fotoguzzi]

He's back,

https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Trail-cam/i-X43cg5r/A

Someone please tell me why this clip is not embedded like the first one.  I pasted the same type of link.

[AJ Huff]

I don't see any embedded video, just a link. I don't think that's a feature Luap has ever had turned on.

But I DO SEE a tail this time, more like a ground hog than opossum.

-AJ

[cliffrod]

That is an opossum.  no question. no doubt.

[fotoguzzi]

I don't see any embedded video, just a link. I don't think that's a feature Luap has ever had turned on.

But I DO SEE a tail this time, more like a ground hog than opossum.

-AJ

the very first page in this thread has an embedded video . But I pasted the same type link here but it’s a link only At least on my devices that first video is embedded

[yogidozer]

Look at the footprints opossum tracks show 5 thinner "fingers"
Groundhogs are more like a smaller dog 4 fingers up front 5 in the rear
Groundhogs kinda hop when the move, opossums kinda waddle

[AJ Huff]

the very first page in this thread has an embedded video . But I pasted the same type link here but it’s a link only At least on my devices that first video is embedded

I don't see an embedded video on any of my devices, phone, tablet, or laptop, all different browsers. I only see a hyperlink to your video.

-AJ