What animals am I seeing?

[Arctic Fox]

Twice, I have seen three furry animals, the color of a Hershey's chocolate bar, disappear into the preserve.

Each is around one foot to fifteen inches in all three dimensions and has short legs and little in the way of a tail.

I have always seen them from behind, so don't know what their head/face looks like, and from about 25 yards away.

Definitely not bobcats or coyotes.

Suggestions are nutria, possums or marsh rabbits.

Any thoughts?

Thank you

[Arctic Fox]

Twice, I have seen three furry animals, the color of a Hershey's chocolate bar, disappear into the preserve. Any thoughts?

and that's milk chocolate, not white chocolate, so I have ruled out arctic foxes, too

[KayakerNC]

Feral pigs?

[kittygilchrist]

Kayaker, i think you hit it...based on dimensions given. Beware of mature wild boars.

[Indydealmaker]

NY rats left behind by Bronx snow birds.

[gomoho]

Nutria have disgusting tails - like rats.

[DDoug]

Yep got to be pigs they are good eatin.

[Ecuadog]

It might have been my lunch. Sometimes it gets away.

[Halle]

I saw a opossum in my neighbors driveway this morning. In my opinion they are one of the ugliest creatures ever. As Grannie would say, Jethro lets have some possum stew and grits.:icon_hungry:

[buggyone]

Most likely a marsh rat. Small tail, body around 15 inches long, and a pointed snout.

Harmless and it prefers to live in the tall grasses and marshes but will come around bird feeders or Long Islanders.

[Arctic Fox]

Feral pigs?

I did think maybe wild boar, based on a website of Florida fauna, but these critters have what looks like thick brown fur

are feral pigs here furry, or do they just have a few hairs?

[KayakerNC]

I did think maybe wild boar, based on a website of Florida fauna, but these critters have what looks like thick brown fur
are feral pigs here furry, or do they just have a few hairs?
Yep, furry.
http://www.nbbd.com/photos/Animals1/hog.jpg http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Florida-Seeks-to-Protect-Its-Natural-Areas-from-Feral-Hogs-2.jpg

[Arctic Fox]

Yep, furry.
http://www.nbbd.com/photos/Animals1/hog.jpg http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Florida-Seeks-to-Protect-Its-Natural-Areas-from-Feral-Hogs-2.jpg

and the winner is...

...feral hogs

thank you everyone for your suggestions

I'll know where to come next time I need help with the crossword

[John_W]

Do you live on Heron Golf Course or in Sunset Point? A poster in April reported wild pigs digging up his backyard on the third hole of Heron.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/pack-wild-pigs-digging-heron-golf-course-111306/

[Arctic Fox]

Do you live on Heron Golf Course or in Sunset Point? A poster in April reported wild pigs digging up his backyard on the third hole of Heron.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/pack-wild-pigs-digging-heron-golf-course-111306/

Thanks for the link, John - interesting reading

I have lived near the Mark Gary Morse Wildlife Preserve for four years and last week was the first time I have seen them, but neighbor says she has seen them on our lawn. No sign of any digging (yet!) so I guess we have been lucky. We also have alligators, bobcats and coyotes (the full ABC) so maybe they all keep each other in balance.