‘Mystery animal’ seen on state park wildlife camera may not be so mysterious

A photo of a “mystery animal” caught on a wildlife camera last week in Texas led state park officials to ask its Facebook followers if they had an idea of what the animal is.

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The Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park got suggestions -- thousands of them.

The animal was spotted by a visitor to the park in southern Texas, and the photo was sent to state park officials with a question about what the animal is.

“Is it a new species? An escapee from a nearby zoo? Or just a park ranger in disguise?,” officials in turn asked in the Facebook posting. “Regardless, it’s thrilling to see such an incredible animal in its natural habitat.”

More than 1,000 people offer suggestions – everything from a “Texas rat” to a capybara, which is, basically, a big rat.

“This photo was taken by a park visitor and we do not have an exact location where this photo was taken, except it was indeed in the RGV,” officials said in the update.

The consensus seems to be that the creature is a badger. While some may think badgers live in colder climes, the American badger can be found in the western and central U.S., according to the National Park Service.

Texas wildlife officials say the badger is found throughout Texas except in the farthest eastern edge of the state.

“While American Badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range,” officials said.

Mitch Sternberg, a zone biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told KVEO-TV that the animal is a badger.

“The black ‘mask’ in the face and the hint of a white line under the chin to neck and general stocky shape of the animal are a dead giveaway,” Sternberg said.

“Although the animal appears very plump, it may be in part to the general stocky size of badgers, the angler of the camera, a pregnant female and or a bit of distortion as part of its body was in motion at the time of the photo,” he said.