Hello Tweeters,


Marc and I had this exchange on Tweeters 9-3-2008. See link for information on this great little mammal.


Dan Reiff
----- Original Message -----
From: notcalm at comcast.net
To: "Marc Hoffman" <tweeters at dartfrogmedia.com>, tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, August 3, 2008 12:03:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Short-Tailed Muskrat-Like Critter: ID???

Hello Marc,

Could this be a Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa)? If so, you were fortunate to see one. Google for Identification.
It is not at all like the beavers we see in the marsh or lakes, but an interesting little animal first described by Lewis and Clark.
Link for Mountain Beaver:
http://www.budknawwood.com/Aplodontia.htm

Best regards,
Dan Reiff, PhD

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Marc Hoffman <tweeters at dartfrogmedia.com>
> 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/s
> hortTailedMuskrat/
>
>
> 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