‘Mystery animal’ caught on camera in Rio Grande Valley leaves park officials stumped
‘Mysterious Animal’ Captured On Camera In Rio Grande Valley Leaves Park Officials Stunned
- Authorities captured an unidentified animal with their nighttime camera in Texas
- Hundreds of social media users guessed what it could be – including a ‘bear’
A photo of a mysterious animal has baffled officials and locals after it was spotted in a Texas state park.
Authorities at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, of Texas Parks and Wildlife, posted a photo of the beast on social media asking for help identifying it.
The small four-legged animal can be seen prowling the ground close to a tree, after being captured by a night camera.
On Facebook, the park posted: “Captured on a game camera – a mysterious animal lurking in the Rio Grande Valley! ‘
We’re scratching our heads to identify this elusive creature. Is it a new species? An escapee from a nearby zoo? Or just a park ranger in disguise?
The small four-legged animal can be seen prowling the ground close to a tree, after being captured by a night camera
Either way, it’s exciting to see such an incredible animal in its natural environment. We will keep you updated as we continue to investigate this mystery.
“Have you ever captured a mysterious animal on camera? Share your story in the comments and let us know what you think this animal is!’
The post drew hundreds of comments from people guessing what the animal might be — with some ideas closer to the mark than others.
One guessed it was “a bear,” but if not, definitely a “park ranger in disguise,” while another added it was a “good old Texas buddy.”
Anther said “Capybara?” before a third added, “How about a picture of a deer in the same spot so we can get some context.”
But after a few days of speculation, park officials revealed what they thought the animal was: an American badger.
The post drew hundreds of comments from people guessing what the animal might be — with some ideas closer to the mark than others
They said in an updated post, ‘Wow, this photo has gotten a lot of attention! We agree with most comments that this is most likely an American badger’
Authorities at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, of Texas Parks and Wildlife, posted a photo of the beast on social media asking for help identifying it
They said in an updated post, ‘Wow, this photo has gotten a lot of attention! We agree with most comments that this is most likely an American badger.
‘Not to be confused with the Honey Badger which lives in Africa and Asia and is said not to care much.
“To be clear, this photo was taken by a park visitor and we don’t have an exact location where this photo was taken, other than it was indeed in the RGV.
“While American badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly because of their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range.”
It’s unclear exactly where in the Rio Grande Valley the photo was taken.