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VIDEO: Can you recognise this animal?
An amateur cameraman is appealing for help to identify an animal he
filmed swimming in the canal in Radcliffe.
Peter Lee was walking on the banks of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal on Good Friday with his daughters, Bethany (10) and two-year-old Jasmine.
As they reached lodges close to Radcliffe Riverside High School, in Spring Lane, he spotted something swimming towards him.
He filmed the animal for around 30 seconds on his video camera before it swam away.
Mr Lee, of Barlow Street, said: "When I first saw it, I thought it was a cat. Then it jumped into the water and I started filming it.
"I was very surprised. I have seen a few animals on the canal over the years, but I have never seen anything like this.
"It was amazing to see."
Mr Lee (49), who works as a gardener, is now looking for help frtom anybody who can identify the animal.
He said: "I have been to a vet who said it was an otter, and I went to the owner of a pet shop, who said it was a mink.
"I'm not sure what it is."
If the animal is a mink, it may have to be caught to prevent it killing other animals living around the canal.
Mr Lee also hopes that his footage of the animal will persuade people to try to keep the canal clean.
He said: "It is a shame that the canal has fallen into such a bad state over the years.
"There are animals living there and people shouldn't be throwing all their rubbish in there."
Anyone who can help to identify the animal can contact Mr Lee on (0161) 724 7320.
Watch the video and tell us what
animal you think it is!
9:39am Wednesday 9th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: player #1, Half the world away on 10:33am Wed 9 Apr 08
its Robin Williams!
Posted by: KFBWFC, bolton on 10:54am Wed 9 Apr 08
Its a beaver smoking a fag.
Its a beaver smoking a fag.
Posted by: Tommy on 11:01am Wed 9 Apr 08
Looks like an otter to me.
Looks like an otter to me.
Posted by: Duncan, Chorley on 11:34am Wed 9 Apr 08
It is a mink not an otter. These were kept in captivity and bred for the fur trade in the north west. Many escaped as they are extremely intellingent and resourceful creatures, and I believe some were even "liberated" and set into the wild.
Unfortunately they are seen to be a pest in that they are voracious predators and prey on wetland birds, eggs and nestlings along with fish and amphibians.
They are a non-native species but have adapted very well to our climate and have taken over habitats that once were and could be again, otter territories.
I find them charming little creatures as they are very inquisitive and will come very close to you to inspect just what you are, however, like the other non-native species that have been introduced such as the grey squirrel, zander and american signal crayfish, there is a strong lobby to eradicate them.
It is a mink not an otter. These were kept in captivity and bred for the fur trade in the north west. Many escaped as they are extremely intellingent and resourceful creatures, and I believe some were even "liberated" and set into the wild.
Unfortunately they are seen to be a pest in that they are voracious predators and prey on wetland birds, eggs and nestlings along with fish and amphibians.
They are a non-native species but have adapted very well to our climate and have taken over habitats that once were and could be again, otter territories.
I find them charming little creatures as they are very inquisitive and will come very close to you to inspect just what you are, however, like the other non-native species that have been introduced such as the grey squirrel, zander and american signal crayfish, there is a strong lobby to eradicate them.
Posted by: Bowks, Bury on 2:20pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Duncan, whilst I enjoyed your description of the mink, I would like to point out that you identification of this animal is incorrect. It probably resembles the mink that is found in Chorley but in this case you are wrong.
The animal the gentleman has filmed is quite evidently the notorius Greenmount Panther. It was last spotted some 10 years ago with fears that it was attacking local livestock. It appears that is has reappeared under the guise of a mink.
Hope this helps to clear the situation up.
Duncan, whilst I enjoyed your description of the mink, I would like to point out that you identification of this animal is incorrect. It probably resembles the mink that is found in Chorley but in this case you are wrong.
The animal the gentleman has filmed is quite evidently the notorius Greenmount Panther. It was last spotted some 10 years ago with fears that it was attacking local livestock. It appears that is has reappeared under the guise of a mink.
Hope this helps to clear the situation up.
Posted by: Stuart, Greenmount on 2:28pm Wed 9 Apr 08
I believe the comment above to be incorrect - the notorious Greenmount panther was reported to be considerably larger than the creature pictured. This otter/mink type creature had better stay clear of the Greenmount area for fear of attack from the panther!
Beware the Beast of Greenmount!
I believe the comment above to be incorrect - the notorious Greenmount panther was reported to be considerably larger than the creature pictured. This otter/mink type creature had better stay clear of the Greenmount area for fear of attack from the panther!
Beware the Beast of Greenmount!
Posted by: Bowks, Bury on 2:32pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Stuart, you are dillusional. The Beast of Greenmount takes many forms, not just the panther. It has magical abilities to change form at will, hence why it has only ever been spotted by elderly golfers and the membership secretary of Greenmount CC.
Stuart, you are dillusional. The Beast of Greenmount takes many forms, not just the panther. It has magical abilities to change form at will, hence why it has only ever been spotted by elderly golfers and the membership secretary of Greenmount CC.
Posted by: Duncan, Chorley on 3:15pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Whilst I take on board what you say, I fear, having paid closer scrutiny to the footage, it would appear that this is a rare example of the Bury Beaver, often to be seen lurking late at night in back streets and canal tow paths.
It frequents bushes, mounds and clefts and unsurprisingly it was mistaken by Mr Lee for a cat as they share a common quiloquialism.
Whilst I take on board what you say, I fear, having paid closer scrutiny to the footage, it would appear that this is a rare example of the Bury Beaver, often to be seen lurking late at night in back streets and canal tow paths.
It frequents bushes, mounds and clefts and unsurprisingly it was mistaken by Mr Lee for a cat as they share a common quiloquialism.
Posted by: bwfc-til-i-die, bolton on 7:04pm Wed 9 Apr 08
ITS A BIG DIRTY DISEASED RIDDEN RAT!!!!!
ITS A BIG DIRTY DISEASED RIDDEN RAT!!!!!
Posted by: george, bury on 7:57pm Wed 9 Apr 08
its tarquar
Posted by: m brown, radcliffe on 8:32pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Mink, I have spotted them near Ladyshore recently.
Mink, I have spotted them near Ladyshore recently.
Posted by: Roving Bob, radcliffe canal on 8:53pm Wed 9 Apr 08
I live on the shores of the Radcliffe Canal which i have done for many years,what you saw was my tea the little bugger jumped off my plate just as i was about to stick my fork in its rump!!!!,The reason its swimming so fast is to cool its feet down off the fire.It is in fact hybrid cat rat this is a cross between a dog and a ferret,hence the name catrat.
I live on the shores of the Radcliffe Canal which i have done for many years,what you saw was my tea the little bugger jumped off my plate just as i was about to stick my fork in its rump!!!!,The reason its swimming so fast is to cool its feet down off the fire.It is in fact hybrid cat rat this is a cross between a dog and a ferret,hence the name catrat.
Posted by: Roving Bob, Radcliffe Canal on 8:58pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Lost:one cheeky little bugger with purple hairy buttocks named catrat.
Last Seen:By Mr Lee
If Found: Please return to my dinner plate all me veg is goin cold.
Lost:one cheeky little bugger with purple hairy buttocks named catrat.
Last Seen:By Mr Lee
If Found: Please return to my dinner plate all me veg is goin cold.
Posted by: vindiboy, Bury on 10:24pm Wed 9 Apr 08
For Goodness sake everyone...has no-one heard of [bold][quote]quote[/quote] BILL ODDY[/bold] !!!!
He'll sort it out for you.....
For Goodness sake everyone...has no-one heard of
quote
BILL ODDY !!!!
He'll sort it out for you.....
Posted by: Lynne, Burrs country park lover on 9:44am Thu 10 Apr 08
it is lovely to see this little chap (mink)still alive and kicking... we last saw him on the Irwell almost 12months to the day.. at castlecroft.. he was a very busy little chap, in and out of the water with a fresh fish each time, amazing to watch him struggle with his catch, he must have eaten atleast six.. his little tummy was huge.. he then curled up in his den that was built on the base of the bridge over the river irwell.. glad he has found a new home after the floods earlier...he is the same mink..just relocated!! enjoy him !!![/bold] [bold]bold[/bold] [italic]italic[/italic]
it is lovely to see this little chap (mink)still alive and kicking... we last saw him on the Irwell almost 12months to the day.. at castlecroft.. he was a very busy little chap, in and out of the water with a fresh fish each time, amazing to watch him struggle with his catch, he must have eaten atleast six.. his little tummy was huge.. he then curled up in his den that was built on the base of the bridge over the river irwell.. glad he has found a new home after the floods earlier...he is the same mink..just relocated!! enjoy him !!! bold
Posted by: otta-spotta, radcliffe on 11:32am Thu 10 Apr 08
[bold]bold[/bold] That IS a minx!I live in Eton Hill Road,near the lodge,and saw a white minx in my garden a few months ago.It was definetily a minx and was not shy of people!The nearest Bury beaver is in Silver Street on a Friday n Saturday night!!
That IS a minx!I live in Eton Hill Road,near the lodge,and saw a white minx in my garden a few months ago.It was definetily a minx and was not shy of people!The nearest Bury beaver is in Silver Street on a Friday n Saturday night!!
Posted by: Bowks, Bury on 2:55pm Thu 10 Apr 08
Lynne, what planet are you on? There are no fish in the Irwell so how on earth can you possibly have seen it diving in and out with fish. Must have had a few too many in the Brown Cow I suspect!!!
The greenmount Panther lives!!!
Lynne, what planet are you on? There are no fish in the Irwell so how on earth can you possibly have seen it diving in and out with fish. Must have had a few too many in the Brown Cow I suspect!!!
The greenmount Panther lives!!!
Posted by: lynne, Burrs country park lover via Brown cow !!!!!! on 4:22pm Thu 10 Apr 08
Rammy panther!! and you said i was drunk!!! there are tonnes of fish in the river ask all the other beer drinkers at the Brown cow !!!!we dont make things up like you rammy lot !! ha ha
Rammy panther!! and you said i was drunk!!! there are tonnes of fish in the river ask all the other beer drinkers at the Brown cow !!!!we dont make things up like you rammy lot !! ha ha
Posted by: KT, Rammy on 5:12pm Thu 10 Apr 08
it's a water rat, like a land rat only it lives in water!
it's a water rat, like a land rat only it lives in water!
Posted by: edward pilkington, radcliffe on 5:58pm Thu 10 Apr 08
PLEASE DESIST FROM MAKING SNIDE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PHOTO OF MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S BEST HAT. I NOW WISH I'D REMOVED IT BEFORE PUSHING HER IN THE CANAL
PLEASE DESIST FROM MAKING SNIDE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PHOTO OF MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S BEST HAT. I NOW WISH I'D REMOVED IT BEFORE PUSHING HER IN THE CANAL
Posted by: eric, Melbourne on 5:31am Fri 11 Apr 08
Firstly i must thank you all for your comments,i hav'nt laughed so much for ages.I used to live near the canal and on seceral occassions saw the creature in the picture and i too thought it was an otter or a mink.Keep those comments coming.
Firstly i must thank you all for your comments,i hav'nt laughed so much for ages.I used to live near the canal and on seceral occassions saw the creature in the picture and i too thought it was an otter or a mink.Keep those comments coming.
Posted by: eric, Melbourne on 5:33am Fri 11 Apr 08
Firstly i must thank you all for your comments,i hav'nt laughed so much for ages.I used to live near the canal and on seceral occassions saw the creature in the picture and i too thought it was an otter or a mink.Keep those comments coming.
Firstly i must thank you all for your comments,i hav'nt laughed so much for ages.I used to live near the canal and on seceral occassions saw the creature in the picture and i too thought it was an otter or a mink.Keep those comments coming.
Posted by: Bowks, Bury on 9:23am Fri 11 Apr 08
The only fish in that river are the battered variety which are thrown out of the pub kitchen window.
The only fish in that river are the battered variety which are thrown out of the pub kitchen window.
Posted by: steven, radcliffe on 10:04am Fri 11 Apr 08
its a definite member of the weasel family, too small for an otter, and dosen't have the long neck, characteristiscs of a weasel which leads me to believe this is in fact a mink or somebodies escapes ferret.
its a definite member of the weasel family, too small for an otter, and dosen't have the long neck, characteristiscs of a weasel which leads me to believe this is in fact a mink or somebodies escapes ferret.
Posted by: tucker, bury on 10:49am Fri 11 Apr 08
It's mink. I should know, as I shot the little blighter this morning. It's now a very dead mink at that... Bob, collect you tea whenever you are ready, it's in the freezer.
It's mink. I should know, as I shot the little blighter this morning. It's now a very dead mink at that... Bob, collect you tea whenever you are ready, it's in the freezer.
Posted by: lynne, BCP/BC on 12:32pm Fri 11 Apr 08
its friday which means a few pints in the cow and a curry later.. tonight we will discuss the mink and between us we shall decide on a name for this chap.. i propose Eric cos he looks like an Eric.. i may even write a story about Eric the mink..Eric the mink and the greenmount panther go to the brown cow for few pints.. on the way there they encounter a giant hairy lizard who's name was billy, he decided to join them for a pint. on the way home later that evening they see...... to be cont'd
its friday which means a few pints in the cow and a curry later.. tonight we will discuss the mink and between us we shall decide on a name for this chap.. i propose Eric cos he looks like an Eric.. i may even write a story about Eric the mink..Eric the mink and the greenmount panther go to the brown cow for few pints.. on the way there they encounter a giant hairy lizard who's name was billy, he decided to join them for a pint. on the way home later that evening they see...... to be cont'd
Posted by: joan wilson, radcliffe on 4:34pm Fri 11 Apr 08
it looks very much like an otter
it looks very much like an otter
Posted by: psychicgary, bury on 12:58am Sat 12 Apr 08
HMMMMMMMMMMMM looks like an otter choking on a coke can!
HMMMMMMMMMMMM looks like an otter choking on a coke can!
Posted by: wendy, radcliffe on 8:39pm Sat 12 Apr 08
it an OTTER not the mink species tho
it an OTTER not the mink species tho
Posted by: liam, bury on 9:11pm Sat 12 Apr 08
[its a ferrit prob not some monster thing]
der!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ian White, Dublin on 11:07am Mon 14 Apr 08
As a youth, about 40 years ago, I and a number of freinds were taking a short cut near Castlecroft, down by the old Peel Mills. As we were walking we suddenly stopped transfixed by what we saw. There was a group of about 12 large, light brown coloured rodents, bigger than rats and mink. They were in swampy surroundings. They looked benign, but as we were young we were a little wary of going close due to their size. I have since tried to look up what they might be and I think they could have been Corpu. I stand to gbe corrected. This is not a joke and I have never forgotten the sight.
As a youth, about 40 years ago, I and a number of freinds were taking a short cut near Castlecroft, down by the old Peel Mills. As we were walking we suddenly stopped transfixed by what we saw. There was a group of about 12 large, light brown coloured rodents, bigger than rats and mink. They were in swampy surroundings. They looked benign, but as we were young we were a little wary of going close due to their size. I have since tried to look up what they might be and I think they could have been Corpu. I stand to gbe corrected. This is not a joke and I have never forgotten the sight.
Posted by: Ian White, Dublin on 10:44am Tue 15 Apr 08
I meant [bold]Coypu[/bold] , not Corpu.
I meant
Coypu , not Corpu.
Posted by: Bowks, Bury on 2:44pm Tue 15 Apr 08
Ian White, is it not that your memory has altered over the years and the perceived sizre of these rodents has kept Dublin and Dublin and Dublin?!?!?!?
Ian White, is it not that your memory has altered over the years and the perceived sizre of these rodents has kept Dublin and Dublin and Dublin?!?!?!?
Posted by: Bev, todmorden on 12:11am Wed 16 Apr 08
Well, I must say I have had a really good laugh at all the witty comments above (just a snigger at the not-so-witty ones). I thought the creature looked like a beaver because of the shape of its tail. Does anyone fancy taking part in a round-the-clock vigil in the hope of seeing it for ourselves? I have heard the rumours about strange beasts in and around Bury, but I was under the impression that they all had two legs rather than four..............Th
ere are some strange goings-on in Todmorden, too. Keep your eyes gazing heavenward - you might be lucky enough to see one of our UFOs.
Well, I must say I have had a really good laugh at all the witty comments above (just a snigger at the not-so-witty ones). I thought the creature looked like a beaver because of the shape of its tail. Does anyone fancy taking part in a round-the-clock vigil in the hope of seeing it for ourselves? I have heard the rumours about strange beasts in and around Bury, but I was under the impression that they all had two legs rather than four..............Th
ere are some strange goings-on in Todmorden, too. Keep your eyes gazing heavenward - you might be lucky enough to see one of our UFOs.
Posted by: Ian White, Dublin on 10:53am Wed 16 Apr 08
Ey up Bowks. After reading your hilarious riposte I remembered what led me to leave Bury in the first place. Dickheads like you. And no, my memory is fine.
Ey up Bowks. After reading your hilarious riposte I remembered what led me to leave Bury in the first place. Dickheads like you. And no, my memory is fine.
Posted by: Chipshaker, Auckland on 2:47am Fri 18 Apr 08
It's a wild black pudding. They are native to Bury but they are secretive little fellas that usually only come out to feed at dusk. Due to the overhunting and exploitation you don't often see them in their natural habitat. Most of them are captive bred these days but this is probably one of the a few that escaped from Chadwick's black pudding farm a few years ago. It's good to see them roaming free again. Takes me back to my childhood when we'd regularly see them on our camping trips over Holcombe Hill. Obviously most people only see them after they've been caught and skinned, so it's no wonder there's so much confusion.
It's a wild black pudding. They are native to Bury but they are secretive little fellas that usually only come out to feed at dusk. Due to the overhunting and exploitation you don't often see them in their natural habitat. Most of them are captive bred these days but this is probably one of the a few that escaped from Chadwick's black pudding farm a few years ago. It's good to see them roaming free again. Takes me back to my childhood when we'd regularly see them on our camping trips over Holcombe Hill. Obviously most people only see them after they've been caught and skinned, so it's no wonder there's so much confusion.
Posted by: Jesse James, Lancs on 9:52am Fri 18 Apr 08
Chipshaker is absolutely right. I've seen them myself when they are being transported, live, to Bury market for preparation before being put out on the stall.
Small and lithe little creatures, with brownish-green furry coats, remarkable eyesight and razor sharp teeth.
They breed quickly and it is only thanks to the efforts of Bury's black pudding hunters/market stall holders that their numbers are kept to a manageable level. They'd be taking the scraps from your bins otherwise.
Chipshaker is absolutely right. I've seen them myself when they are being transported, live, to Bury market for preparation before being put out on the stall.
Small and lithe little creatures, with brownish-green furry coats, remarkable eyesight and razor sharp teeth.
They breed quickly and it is only thanks to the efforts of Bury's black pudding hunters/market stall holders that their numbers are kept to a manageable level. They'd be taking the scraps from your bins otherwise.
Posted by: Greater Manchester Junior, Whitefield Manchester on 8:59pm Fri 18 Apr 08
It looks like that rare breed of knuckle dragging Bass which has been inbred for generations more commonly known as the Boltonian Bass!!!
It looks like that rare breed of knuckle dragging Bass which has been inbred for generations more commonly known as the Boltonian Bass!!!
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