Posted on 08/16/2006 5:35:23 PM PDT by TFFKAMM
(08-16) 13:55 PDT Turner, Maine (AP) --
Residents are wondering if an animal found dead over the weekend may be the mysterious creature that has mauled dogs, frightened residents and been the subject of local legend for half a generation.
The animal was found near power lines along Route 4 on Saturday, apparently struck by a car while chasing a cat. The carcass was photographed and inspected by several people who live in the area, but nobody is sure exactly what it is.
Michelle O'Donnell of Turner spotted the animal near her yard about a week before it was killed. She called it a "hybrid mutant of something."
"It was evil, evil looking. And it had a horrible stench I will never forget," she told the Sun Journal of Lewiston. "We locked eyes for a few seconds and then it took off. I've lived in Maine my whole life and I've never seen anything like it."
For the past 15 years, residents across Androscoggin County have reported seeing and hearing a mysterious animal with chilling monstrous cries and eyes that glow in the night. The animal has been blamed for attacking and killing a Doberman pinscher and a Rottweiler the past couple of years.
People from Litchfield, Sabattus, Greene, Turner, Lewiston and Auburn have come forward to speak of a mystery monster that roams the woods. Nobody knows for sure what it is, and theories have ranged from a hyena or dingo to a fisher or coydog, an offspring of a coyote and a wild dog.
Now, people are asking if the mystery beast and the animal killed over the weekend are one and the same...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
THREE HUNDRED POSTS! Putting this article up has definitely been my finest moment on FR.
Just a feral mongrel dog.
A 40-50 pound pit bull would destroy a Rotty... Size doesn't always matter... ;)
Hoax, feral dog, wildlife officers supposedly uninterested, chow whatever mix; I think its obvious a government coverup is well underway!
RACISM!
Helen Thomas is ugly in every culture.
I don't think so. My wife was attacked by two pit bulls and when I came swinging at them they ran faster than the roadrunner. Can't imagine a 140 lb Rott running.
Well now... that is interesting indeed. Here in Texas, jackalopes have no known natural predators, save maybe a mountain lion in deep West Texas. I hope those damn things don't migrate out this way.
LOL
A few moments of silence for the late Flying Purple People Eater:
Resume.
OMG! A chocolate chip just flew out my nose!
Folks here think it is a feral Chow that bit the asphalt. Rt 4 is a mean road, just like Stephen King would write. Feral critters abound here, a couple cats coming by our place regularly, but looking very normal. Up at the end of the road, I saw a very dead coyote, (as locals call 'em) or grey wolf (canis lupus or Timber wolf) as others call 'em, with jaws that would put a shark to shame. Plenty of opportunity for feraling around, I suppose. When I first heard about it, I thought one of our less affluent people (not that there is anything wrong with antique pickup camper living) went missing, but a look at the pic and I knew in a heartbeat it wasn't him.
I have come across fishers, which are mean looking, but did not scare me much. They like to gobble up cats, too. Too small for this.
Bear with us
This spring, a black huge spectre made lots of racket on our porch at night and first look disclosed a silhouette rivaling the biggest of the bigfoot tales. It stood outside our picture window and the head nearly touched the soffit. I jest? Not.
It was just your five hundred pound (or so) black bear, very pedestrian, very close, about five feet away on the other side of the glass. My wife watched closely, 30-06 in hand and he ambled off. Jumped into the back of the pickup and tore up a bag of garbage, found no donuts and left. (We in Maine all have pickups, I think.)
Nope, that wasn't a monster either, just a plain ole critter, but with a little makeup, it could have fooled most anyone. If tomorrow I can find someone at the Post Office who knows different about the other terror, I will post an update.
Here is the website of our town and a pic of the town hall, too.
8mm
I am relieved that you have a Highway Garage. You aren't ANYBODY unless you have a Highway Garage.
I know I'm late to this party... but just found the thread...
Anyway - with that full-body view, I would say that I believe the critter is a Chow/Coyote mix. In fact, if you take off the head, it looks a lot like a black coyote....and the short face, blue lips/tongue, and bushy fur around the neck and head would fit the chow side.
Kim Jong Il wants this critter for supper. Roasted road kill. Yum Yum.
What's the update on this? Did they confirm what the dog/breed is? Was it a hybrid wolf/dog or some mix of Chow, etc.?
See my #312. I live in Turner.
I think it is required by law. Wow, Turner is on the map. Well, it was anyway, sort of. But now when people think of Turner, it is not just Ted and Tina anymore.
We have critters that are not even human.
I was thinking about a new town motto, like "Be somebody" but it would have to be "Be someplace".
8mm
I got the very latest update from no less authority than the town Post Office. Seems the story isn't that well covered in Turner as it is elsewhere. Critter was supposed to be hit right across from the Chick-a-Dee restaurant which is right on the town line to Auburn and near the little airport. It is a popular ATV crossing area and the road crew just repainted and changed the lines for traffic, very confusing for everyone.
Apparently someone grabbed it (road kill is popular, so good thing this guy got it first...) and popped it in the freezer before it wound up on a menu somewhere. We are selective about road kill so would have passed it by if we saw it.
We hear the guy is saving it so it can be examined. Story is now it has human-like teeth. Critter sounds more and more like liberals who show up around here from time to time, sporting brand new Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers.
8mm
That looks like a cute little town. I have never been to Maine but hope to go there someday. I've only been as far North in the East as Massachusettes.
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