At first glance, a trail-cam photo taken somewhere in New York State appears to show a wild pig-like animal. Wildlife officials from the New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation say that’s actually not what it is at all. So, what are we looking at, exactly?
[RELATED: Woman Spots Freaky Mystery Animal in West Virginia—What Is It?]
“Wildlife is fascinating, cool, and amusing, but sometimes it’s also a bit tricky!” wrote the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in a Facebook post sharing the photo. Before we reveal the identity of this mystery creature, see if you can guess what it is.
“The photo might have tricked you into thinking that the animal pictured was a pig of some kind,” wrote the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. “However, with a closer look, you’re actually looking at the back end of a gray fox!”
A fox? Can you see it? Check out the second photo below:
That’s No Pig
Turns out, the mystery animal caught on this New York State trail cam is a gray fox. What appears to be the pig’s head is actually the fox’s bushy tail, which has a black stripe running down the center. What appears to be the pig’s backside is actually where the fox’s head would be if the animal didn’t have its head and neck turned away from the camera.
One commenter summed it up nicely when he wrote: “Yep, it looks like a north bound pig but it’s actually a south bound fox.”
Header image by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation via Facebook
Best Trail Cameras to Watch Wildlife
Learn more about the best trail cams here.
Outdoors.com may earn a commission when you make a purchase through affiliate links. Thank you for your support.