Baker County mystery creature may be fox squirrel

The speculation about the mystery creature in Baker County is running rampant. Stories run the gamut from an escaped ape to a juvenile "big foot," according to media reports.

However, according to officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), there may be another explanation - an orange phase fox squirrel.

Fox squirrels are the largest species of tree squirrel. They have distinct color phases ranging from reddish brown to pale grey backs and red to yellow-orange bellies. These animals can be about 2 feet in length, when measuring the tail and body. They have broad tails, coarse, grizzled fur and short ears.

FWC Officer Ken Holmes, the investigator on the mystery creature case, said the animal in question is not behaving like a primate, especially with all the nocturnal activity.

The first sighting of the mystery creature occurred at the end of October. A homeowner reported hearing and seeing something in a tree behind his house. Holmes went to investigate. Although the investigator acknowledges that there was something about 100 feet up in a pine tree in a nest-like structure, he was unable to identify it.

The homeowner told Holmes that the creature had broken into some jelly donuts that were at the site. Holmes suggested that since the creature had exhibited an interest in the donuts, that the homeowner should leave additional treats at the base of the tree to lure the creature back to the ground. Holmes then instructed the homeowner to call once the animal was out of the tree.

The creature came and went with no one seeing it.

"I'm not discounting anything. However, this creature, whatever it may be, simply isn't acting like a primate (monkey)," Holmes said. "When it climbed up in the nest and hid, that wasn't primate behavior. An orangutan would have peered over the side to watch what was going on down below.

"Orangutans don't walk very well, so they swing from limbs, and it's hard to swing from pine tree limbs. Orangutans are messy eaters. If the animal were an orangutan, you would expect to find pieces of donuts or fruit scattered all over the place, rather than just neatly nibbled."

The next sighting was reported Wednesday when a homeowner reported hearing his dogs bark and a shadowy figure running across the roof of his dogs' kennel late that night. The homeowner didn't get a good look at the creature since it was dark.

Thursday, Holmes went to the site and set up a culvert trap, baiting it with bananas and apples, which had been donated by KC's Produce in Lake City.

"The trap was still empty Friday morning," Holmes said. "However, the story attracted quite a crowd to the area, so the animal may have been simply avoiding the people."

Holmes continues to monitor the situation.

"The possibility that it may be a fox squirrel is a good one," Holmes said.

Holmes speculates that if the trap catches any wildlife, it will be of the native variety.

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