Anyone's guess?

stripperguy · 06-19-2022, 01:29 PM

As I sat at a campsite on Shallow Lake, I saw a log being blown by the strong winds. It was poking up at one end only, maybe a 30 degree angle.
Odd...
Well, it wasn't drifting with the wind, in fact it changed direction.
OK, so it's a beaver, there's tons of activity within a stone's throw.

But this thing looked very different from the many beavers I've seen and watched throughout the years.
Very blunt on the end, and when the waves were just right, I could see that it was big.

Whatever it was, it clearly saw me, did a few passes left right and then swam farther away. Occasionally, it would drop below the surface, but pop up again quickly. About twenty minutes of this, and it was gone.
I noticed it again, in the late afternoon, I tried to get any sort of photo, maybe clear enough if you zoom in to figure out what it was.
I have my guess, bit I'm not talking...

Anyway, here's all the pics I have:

Oops, wrong pic!

If none of these are clear enough, here's a link to the same pics on google photos, maybe you can zoom in better there...they're the last couple of photos.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QPrdbdQv4XeFXfm77

geogymn · 06-20-2022, 06:57 AM

Can't tell by the images but sounds like an Otter by its behavior?

St.Regis · 06-20-2022, 11:33 AM

My guess is a big log. Half is fully water logged and stuck on the bottom and the other half can barely float, circling around in an eddy

stripperguy · 06-20-2022, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St.Regis

My guess is a big log. Half is fully water logged and stuck on the bottom and the other half can barely float, circling around in an eddy

Haha, that?s what I thought too, but it was moving way too much and in too many directions.
It also disappeared for a few hours and then returned, but not quite as close.

tuccarammahacking · 06-22-2022, 02:12 PM

That could be a casteroides. I believe you.

Justin · 06-23-2022, 12:37 PM

Large snapping turtle. You can see its shell in the first photo below the deer photo.

Here?s a photo from Google for comparison.

Zach · 06-24-2022, 07:54 PM

My guess is that it was an ichthyosaur.

stripperguy · 06-24-2022, 08:10 PM

All you guys are too funny...I had the images up on a large screen TV, it surely looks like ursus americanus to me.

Justin · 06-24-2022, 09:01 PM

For what ever reason this website will not let me share all 3 of these photos at once, so I am posting them separately. This first photo is zoomed on one of the photos posted above. The other two photos look very similar to me.

Justin · 06-24-2022, 09:04 PM

Justin · 06-24-2022, 09:05 PM

stripperguy · 06-25-2022, 09:17 AM

Justin,
I gotta say, I think you’re right!!
The angle is right, bears usually swim much flatter…
As a best guess, whatever it was occasionally showed part of itself (or all??) to be around 2-3 ft long.
I’ve seen plenty of large snappers that big

Justin · 06-27-2022, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stripperguy

Justin,
I gotta say, I think you?re right!!

My darling girlfriend says this all the time.

06-19-2022, 01:29 PM	#1
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,899	Anyone's guess? As I sat at a campsite on Shallow Lake, I saw a log being blown by the strong winds. It was poking up at one end only, maybe a 30 degree angle. Odd... Well, it wasn't drifting with the wind, in fact it changed direction. OK, so it's a beaver, there's tons of activity within a stone's throw. But this thing looked very different from the many beavers I've seen and watched throughout the years. Very blunt on the end, and when the waves were just right, I could see that it was big. Whatever it was, it clearly saw me, did a few passes left right and then swam farther away. Occasionally, it would drop below the surface, but pop up again quickly. About twenty minutes of this, and it was gone. I noticed it again, in the late afternoon, I tried to get any sort of photo, maybe clear enough if you zoom in to figure out what it was. I have my guess, bit I'm not talking... Anyway, here's all the pics I have: Oops, wrong pic! If none of these are clear enough, here's a link to the same pics on google photos, maybe you can zoom in better there...they're the last couple of photos. https://photos.app.goo.gl/QPrdbdQv4XeFXfm77

06-20-2022, 06:57 AM	#2
geogymn Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,036	Can't tell by the images but sounds like an Otter by its behavior? __________________ "A culture is no better than its woods." W.H. Auden

06-23-2022, 12:37 PM	#6
Justin Moving along Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,829	Large snapping turtle. You can see its shell in the first photo below the deer photo. Here?s a photo from Google for comparison. Last edited by Justin; 06-23-2022 at 12:53 PM..

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06-20-2022, 11:33 AM	#3
St.Regis Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,561	My guess is a big log. Half is fully water logged and stuck on the bottom and the other half can barely float, circling around in an eddy

06-24-2022, 07:54 PM	#7
Zach Last seen wandering vaguely Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Orwell NY Posts: 1,017	My guess is that it was an ichthyosaur.

06-24-2022, 08:10 PM	#8
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,899	All you guys are too funny...I had the images up on a large screen TV, it surely looks like ursus americanus to me.

06-24-2022, 09:01 PM	#9
Justin Moving along Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,829	For what ever reason this website will not let me share all 3 of these photos at once, so I am posting them separately. This first photo is zoomed on one of the photos posted above. The other two photos look very similar to me.

06-24-2022, 09:04 PM	#10
Justin Moving along Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,829

06-24-2022, 09:05 PM	#11
Justin Moving along Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,829

06-25-2022, 09:17 AM	#12
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,899	Justin, I gotta say, I think you’re right!! The angle is right, bears usually swim much flatter… As a best guess, whatever it was occasionally showed part of itself (or all??) to be around 2-3 ft long. I’ve seen plenty of large snappers that big

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