What is it?

[Hobie]

[urlhttp://ksax.com/article/stories/S2226117.shtml?cat=10230]Dog, cat, badger[/url]...? Apparently this is a great mystery in Minnesota.

[Pitchy]

Albino Tasmanian (sp)

[FWiedner]

Looks like a dog somebody lost track of.

[3leggedturtle]

LOOKS LIKE A DOG SOMEONE KEPT PENNED UP AND NEVER TOOK CARE OF THEN THREW ON THE LAKESHORE WHEN IT DIED

[Nath]

Just for a second I thought the MIL had logged on

N

[klhill]

In Mexico or the border country that would be chupacabra.

[kimwcook]

Looks like a dog with mange or some affliction that caused it's hair to fall out.

[oregon73]

That is one dead dog. I hope it didn't suffer.

Rob

[Pete44ru]

I'm w/Pitchy, long digger claws & short canines/fangs = Tasmanian Devil (albino ?), possibly a passed pet.

Conversely, the lower jaw looks too short, and the claws too long, for it to be a Wolverine.

On the other hand, it "COULD" be a Honey Badger.

.

[Blaine]

Can anyone fix that link, please? Mangy, feral dog, seems like.

[Pitchy]

Haven`t heard anything about that creature but we also have big foot near by.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13968657

[Stan in SC]

I wouldn't think it was a dog judging by the claws.Teeth look like a dog but the skull seems short.Been dead awhile or has mange judging by hair loss.Has a lot of canine attributes.

Stan in SC

[Rimfire McNutjob]

In Mexico or the border country that would be chupacabra.

Chupa... For sure.

[madman4570]

Juvenile coyote.
Most hair gone,and most meat/skin/fur gone from feet giving the illusion the claws are longer than what they would be normally covered with a coyotes foot.
Probably hit/shot/poisoned ?

[rock-steady]

Big Mortie's pasome dog must'a got out'de backdooryard whilst he was shottin beer bottles agin.

[Ysabel Kid]

Just for a second I thought the MIL had logged on

N

Darn it Nath! You owe me a keyboard!

[Griff]

Something to scare kids and make adults worry about mutants.

[93marshooter]

poor dog that some one starved to death after locking it up and never giving it enough exercise to wear down it's claws. The person never trimmed the claws. etc looks like a border collie or similar.

[L_Kilkenny]

Had the wife look at it and she said chupa with zero hesitation. Me? I have no idea. If that's a dog I've never seen one, even one with zero care, that had claws like that.

Whatever the heck it is it's much better off posing for a picture there than it was a week ago.

LK

[Sixgun]

Looks like my shipping supervisor, Dave, only better looking

[kimwcook]

Sixgun, take a deep breath brother. They fall eventually. At least we can hope.

[2X22]

It is a dog. Definately one that soaked in water after it died. Thats why most of the hair is gone but a few tufts.

[Batman1939]

Based on the little bit shown in the picture: It is NOT a dog or member of the dog family. These animals show only 4 toes in a frontfoot track. Check out your family pet.

This animal clearly has 5 long-clawed toes and is most likely a badger. The hair shown could fit with that of a badger. It is losing its hair, most likely it has either soaked in water or been exposed to the elements for sometime.

A better (more complete) photo would help a lot !!

[Batman1939]

I went to the site that Hobie referenced after making my initial post. The main comment I have to add is that if the MN DNR cannot identify it with the specimen in hand, then they should take it to any competent mammalogist. A simple look at the teeth should immediately confirm its identity--it is a badger.

This simply is not a difficult animal to identify.