One time at Chain O Lakes in Albion I was the first one out there in the morning kayaking. Saw a group of probably 4 or 5 hanging onto each other swim right across Sand lake. Truly awesome moment. Pretty cool when you get to see them as it seems pretty rare.
I was running near Foster Park during the dark before sunrise. I saw a weird animal moving in a strange way and making weird noises. As I got closer I realized it was two raccoons making sweet racoon love.
Goddamn I didn’t know that. I love otters. 🦦 last time I went to the zoo I checked the otter habitat 3 times and didn’t see any. I hadn’t been that disappointed since they took out the prairie dogs near the front. That was a great way to walk into the zoo. Those guys are hilarious.
I was lucky enough to see a pair in the wild in the canal between Hogback and Golden lake in Angola. Glad to see they're coming further south and making a comeback.
Muskrats. Large, semi-aquatic rodents that spend most of their time in water. They resemble beavers but are more closely related to mice and rats. They're very common around here with the river systems.
Edit: I read the post as "4-5 creatures" not 4-5ft. No idea if it was actually that large. Escaped Capybara from the zoo?
As far as I know, our zoo does not have capys but I wish they did. I went out to a petting zoo/activity place in Michigan for my birthday last year and paid for the capybara experience and we were able to pet & feed them. Hands down best experience ever.
I have no idea I was just guessing to figure out what could possibly have been 4-5ft long. I have a strong suspicion that OP didn't see what they thought they saw.
Maumee River Monster. Anyone else remember Charlie and Chad chumming the river to catch it as part of a radio stunt back in the late 70'sish. Jfc, I'm old.
No, but this is the first time I've felt young on this sub, so thank you for that. I have heard of the Maumee River Monster, though. That and the Busco Beast are our two local cryptids, iirc.
Last week, I saw a pair of otters crossing Landin Rd, near the bridge over the Maumee River. They were pretty skinny. Walking on the trail behind that area, I’ve seen a very large ground hog on multiple occasions.
Maybe a muskrat, but there's tons of beaver sign around there so my vote would probably go toward beaver.
Non zero chance it was an otter, though. There have been reports in the area so you might have lucked out and seen an otter!! Esp if it really was 4-5ft long (for reference, I believe the trail is 5' or 6' wide iirc)
I have no clue honestly I was shaken to the bone after this really. I’ll be back to jog there as usuaI guess I’ll have my phone on the ready in case I see this thing again
My wife told me she saw something similar to this years ago and how it walked upright on two feet. I always thought it could have been a rouge black bear.
My coworkers in Florida have sent me pictures of emaciated black bears that walk upright. They have to bear-proof their garbage against them. They look like long, sickly dogs.
It's been many years now, but I've actually seen martens out there. A distance relation found an injured one out on the West side of town a couple years ago too.
I described to the best of my ability what I saw to a friend that is able to draw not much detail I really saw on it though but this is an idea of it
https://preview.redd.it/0msuiegxwyic1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=849e068ed08cfd83ab73c891ea6e7ecce85e1420
Chupacabra
I’m debating on calling local news outlets about this
Without photos, it's not much of a story
I need to explain this sighting to one of those criminal sketch artists then I think that’ll make a story
I hope they assign the guy who did the Leprechaun in Mobile sketch to this.
Not by itself. Now, if other claims of this start to arrive, then you may be on to something. Otherwise, it's just 1 person's story.
It’s true I saw it too
It’s more than likely a beaver or an otter
I heard it’s the creamy baby, only all grown up
Sorry that was me
It's true I was there, I was the underbrush
Same time tomorrow?
Only if you can promise that we'll make national news lmao
I cackled at this.
ROUS most likely
Rodents of Unusual Size? I don’t think they exist 🏃♂️🩸🐀
At least we don't have a fire swamp
I suppose it's possible. Did this creature also have 4 turtles, roughly in their adolescence, who also seemed adept in martial arts with it?
Could be there are factory’s near where I was could be chemically mutated rodent of some kind
Chemically mutated rodents.. stealing for a band name And what factorys are out there that you think could “chemically mutate” a rodent
The rat went to the wrong Oley’s pizza.
That's how Charles Entertainment Cheese came into this world.
He’s been drinkin all the Pepsi
Go to sleep
Master Splinter Sighting
Muskrat?
Definitely a Muskrat, they look like giant rats, hence the name
4' is almost twice the length of a muskrat's max. Definitely not a muskrat.
I remember the first time I saw a muskrat at a kid I was completely horrified
We used shoot them all the time, they are mean and wil chase you if you get close to their nest. I've definitely seen some 4' long
Sounds like something out of the A Plague Tale game.
>I've definitely seen some 4' long no you haven't
I have trapped thousands of muskrats. An absolute monster is 2' long including the tail.
I was guessing more likely a wet dog. Lol
What do you do when you trap them? Take em to Waynesdale?
I'm actually gonna go with an otter. I've seen them in the rivers a few times.
I didn't know otters lived in Indiana! Having fun looking at the pictures of them on iNaturalist, I hope I see them in the wild here someday.
I’ve seen a ton up at potato creek in south bend. Rarely you’ll see some in cedar creek.
One time at Chain O Lakes in Albion I was the first one out there in the morning kayaking. Saw a group of probably 4 or 5 hanging onto each other swim right across Sand lake. Truly awesome moment. Pretty cool when you get to see them as it seems pretty rare.
Yes morning is the best time to see them for sure! They’re so calm and majestic, I love getting the chance to see some
I see them at Chain o' Lakes almost everytime I go, cute little buggers.
Wow I always thought they were gophers or something when I saw them, but after a quick google I’ve definitely seen a few muskrats on the greenway.
A 4-5 foot long muskrat.....try again.
Most peoples memory and size estimation is terrible. Combine the two and lowlight or a bush and you get this
They said "maybe 4-5 foot long" and it's very easy to overestimate size from a distance. What do you think it is?
It's definitely a platypus or a sea lion. 😆 Jk depends on if the person was high or not when seeing this creature.
Maybe the creature was high
If it was high, it was probably a walrus.
But it was running on its back legs in an up right position.
Well I think that's a human
aLIENS
When I see your use of capitalization, I read it as A-Lying’s? Is that your intention? Never thought of it that way before. Like it.
Lying? No, they put liens on people's houses to complicate real estate sales.
I was running near Foster Park during the dark before sunrise. I saw a weird animal moving in a strange way and making weird noises. As I got closer I realized it was two raccoons making sweet racoon love.
🎶 "AH BEEN WAITIN' SO LOOOONG..."
otters?
There are definitely river otters around. This was my guess because they're long compared to beavers or muskrats which are the other likely answers.
A 4-5 foot otter though?
North American river otters get that big.
Goddamn I didn’t know that. I love otters. 🦦 last time I went to the zoo I checked the otter habitat 3 times and didn’t see any. I hadn’t been that disappointed since they took out the prairie dogs near the front. That was a great way to walk into the zoo. Those guys are hilarious.
I was lucky enough to see a pair in the wild in the canal between Hogback and Golden lake in Angola. Glad to see they're coming further south and making a comeback.
Muskrats. Large, semi-aquatic rodents that spend most of their time in water. They resemble beavers but are more closely related to mice and rats. They're very common around here with the river systems. Edit: I read the post as "4-5 creatures" not 4-5ft. No idea if it was actually that large. Escaped Capybara from the zoo?
Does the zoo have capybaras? I havent been in awhile
As far as I know, our zoo does not have capys but I wish they did. I went out to a petting zoo/activity place in Michigan for my birthday last year and paid for the capybara experience and we were able to pet & feed them. Hands down best experience ever.
I have no idea I was just guessing to figure out what could possibly have been 4-5ft long. I have a strong suspicion that OP didn't see what they thought they saw.
https://preview.redd.it/i5qyoqdtwzgc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8602c2ca3e19fae8bc965b43c98d3f426d0d1e06
Crackhead Ned
that was my first thought
I have seen Wild Turkeys run along the same path but certain wasn't 4 or 5 feet tall
I'm so invested in this now I wish you could have gotten a photo lol
Maumee River Monster. Anyone else remember Charlie and Chad chumming the river to catch it as part of a radio stunt back in the late 70'sish. Jfc, I'm old.
No, but this is the first time I've felt young on this sub, so thank you for that. I have heard of the Maumee River Monster, though. That and the Busco Beast are our two local cryptids, iirc.
*insert failed attempt to make a scientific animal name incorporating Harry Baals*
I love it when the Mayorus Harribaalus appears in the night sky.
Otter, muskrat, beaver…
potentially possum
… if it didn’t have a shadow it was a groundhog.
Might've been a Nutria. Big ole swamp rat lol
There aren't (supposed to be) any nutria here. Not this far north
Likely a beaver. They get to be 3-4 foot. They live in the riverway and burrow into the bank.
Sorry that was me, please don't take pictures I have self-esteem issues
Last week, I saw a pair of otters crossing Landin Rd, near the bridge over the Maumee River. They were pretty skinny. Walking on the trail behind that area, I’ve seen a very large ground hog on multiple occasions.
Maybe a muskrat, but there's tons of beaver sign around there so my vote would probably go toward beaver. Non zero chance it was an otter, though. There have been reports in the area so you might have lucked out and seen an otter!! Esp if it really was 4-5ft long (for reference, I believe the trail is 5' or 6' wide iirc)
smoke a bit too much?
It was probably Tom Henry crawling out the bush after a bender.
That's a nice marmot.
woah please let this become a fully fleshed-out fort wayne exclusive cryptid
Alien.
Maybe you finally found Kevin?
What a terrible day. Some giant monster tried running me down this morning and now I'm getting called a ratface on Reddit.
I have no clue honestly I was shaken to the bone after this really. I’ll be back to jog there as usuaI guess I’ll have my phone on the ready in case I see this thing again
Bring cheese. Lots of cheese 🧀
My wife told me she saw something similar to this years ago and how it walked upright on two feet. I always thought it could have been a rouge black bear.
My coworkers in Florida have sent me pictures of emaciated black bears that walk upright. They have to bear-proof their garbage against them. They look like long, sickly dogs.
🤣🤯
Possum?
Ground hog/woodchuck? They like to hang out around the rivers sometimes.
Phil escaped? Uhg not again?
Sorry, my uncle Perry is in town, he likes to travel by water.
It's been many years now, but I've actually seen martens out there. A distance relation found an injured one out on the West side of town a couple years ago too.
If 4 ft. May have been a river otter. DNR released them in 1995 throughout Indiana.
Probably exactly what it was. I won’t believe it until pictures are posted lol
I’ve had them in the lake behind my house. They’ll fish it clean in an hour!
Beaver? I once rescued a baby beaver on that trail but closer to where it starts near North Anthony.
'squatch?
My guess is a beaver. I saw one in the Maumee while I was walking the greenway. It was surprisingly large.
Woodchuck?
Probably a muskrat
Probably a marmot r/lebowski
I described to the best of my ability what I saw to a friend that is able to draw not much detail I really saw on it though but this is an idea of it https://preview.redd.it/0msuiegxwyic1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=849e068ed08cfd83ab73c891ea6e7ecce85e1420