critter ID

[samiam]

We recently spent a couple of weeks on our off-grid wooded land in the Virginia Appalachians (borders Jefferson National Forest). Needed to do some tree clearing and a bit of cabin maintenance (ntm chill out from the internet and living in Jersey). We have three trail cams that we review pics from when we go down: one trained on the cabin deck, one on a game trail about 30' from said cabin, and one on the entrance road by the gate. We've been reviewing these pics for 7 years and are accustomed to seeing a variety of critters, including bear, deer, coyote, the neighbors hounds, and an assortment of smaller animals. This time, howver, we had three pics of an animal I'm struggling to identify. To me, it is definitely feline, but doesn't quite look like a bobcat (or lynx): the ears tufts and fur appear to be too short, and the build too lean, although I suppose the fact that the pics were taken at night with IR illumination could distort such things. These were snapped on Nov 18, 2020, shortly before midnight. Would anyone like to venture an opinion of what this critter is?

[bgfishhook1]

      Just guessing but it does look like a young Cougar  ( MOUNTAIN LION )
  in the second picture . If you do find out what it is please post your findings ,
  I am curious as to what it is , but it is not a Bob Cat because the tail is too long .
      Thanks for posting this .

   BGFISHHOOK1

[jack1747]

Dog

[jack1747]

     Just guessing but it does look like a young Cougar  ( MOUNTAIN LION )
  in the second picture . If you do find out what it is please post your findings ,
  I am curious as to what it is , but it is not a Bob Cat because the tail is too long .
      Thanks for posting this .

   BGFISHHOOK1

the ones I've seen always drag their tails low and use them for balance when running.  Tails a thick too.

[suzyq52]

Dog

I don't purport to have any kind of what could be construed as even vague expertise on wildlife (how's that for a total disclaimer )

But...... looking at tail set and carriage, and over all conformation, I see dog. The pics are too indistinct in the head and ears area to be much help. There are lots of mixed breed hounds with similar tail carriage that also would have similar proportion of leg to length of body. Ears could be drop (think beagle, lab) or rosette (think greyhound), and that's why they don't show up well. Ears could also be docked - many hunting hounds have their ears docked to prevent them from being torn by brush. Here is a video of the great English Foxhound CH Mr Stewarts Cheshire Winslow - notice the cropped ears.

[jack1747]

I don't purport to have any kind of what could be construed as even vague expertise on wildlife (how's that for a total disclaimer )

But...... looking at tail set and carriage, and over all conformation, I see dog. The pics are too indistinct in the head and ears area to be much help. There are lots of mixed breed hounds with similar tail carriage that also would have similar proportion of leg to length of body. Ears could be drop (think beagle, lab) or rosette (think greyhound), and that's why they don't show up well. Ears could also be docked - many hunting hounds have their ears docked to prevent them from being torn by brush. Here is a video of the great English Foxhound CH Mr Stewarts Cheshire Winslow - notice the cropped ears.

That's what caught my eye too. Plus I'm betting a Male dog. 

[shedking]

Definitely canine. Are on stray or feral dog. 🐕

[samiam]

Definitely canine. Are on stray or feral dog. 🐕

I see elements of dog, too, but to me (middle photo) the face/miuzzle looks to be significantly too short. Could be camera/lighting distortion, I guess. If it's dog, it's definitely feral or stray. None of the neighbors' dogs looks even vaguely similar; all have collars. Also, I doubt that any dog with a decent home and food source would be prowling around the mountains at midnight in late November.

[bgfishhook1]

  I was only guessing as to what it is based on the pictures , I can see a
   short muzzle on whatever it is which leads me to believe it is more catlike
   than doglike. If you do find out what it is I for one would like to know. 

     Thanks for posting it .

    BGFISHHOOK1

[samiam]

  I was only guessing as to what it is based on the pictures , I can see a
   short muzzle on whatever it is which leads me to believe it is more catlike
   than doglike. If you do find out what it is I for one would like to know. 

     Thanks for posting it .

    BGFISHHOOK1

If I find out for certain, I will post the result. One neighbor whom we nearly never see (back property corners abut, but only see this guy on very long upslope walks near the AT) does have a long-legged dog with a short, boxer-type face. I suppose that Coco could have had a pup who either went feral or came wandering down on its own...

[indoe]

My guess would be a dog as well. The hind leg looks like a dog. Tail also makes me think it's a dog as well.