Thanks to Dan and James: clearly it's a Mountain Beaver. A lifer
photo for me :)

Marc

At 11:35 PM 8/2/2008, you wrote:
>Friday about 6 pm, while walking the dirt drive to the Rowing Club
>dock on the Sammamish Slough by Marymoor Park, my brother and I came
>upon a critter who looked like a muskrat or nutria but who had a
>short, stub tail. He was wandering along the trail, pretty oblivious to us.
>
>Two photos, shot at about 12 feet, are at:
><http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/shortTailedMuskrat/>http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/shortTailedMuskrat/
>
>
>Anyone know for sure what this animal was? Thanks in advance!
>
>
>Marc Hoffman
>Kirkland, WA
>http://www.dartfrogmedia.com
>mailto: tweeters at dartfrogmedia dot com