Have you ever seen this animal? (pics - warning)

[stevedeshazer]

Exotic animal found in Milwaukie (Oregon)









U.S. teen finds Argentine rodent

<snip>

MILWAUKIE, Ore., April 16 (UPI) -- An Oregon high school student said he was a little confused when he stumbled across a "goofy" Argentine rodent on the way to class.

Nicco Phillips, 17, was on his way to meet his girlfriend before class at Milwaukie High School when he spotted the unusual Argentine animal, named a cavey, the (Portland) Oregonian reported Wednesday.

"At first I thought it was a baby deer. Then it sort of hopped away, like a rabbit. It looked so goofy," Phillips said of his unexpected Tuesday discovery.

Phillips and his girlfriend took the animal to Phillips' house after luring it into a cardboard box with an apple. The high school students said they let the cavey venture around the front yard on a leash.

"It's very cuddly with me. It's snuggles like a rabbit," Phillips said.

An owner has not been found, but Phillip's mother said her son would be glad to keep the curious cavey.

[stevedeshazer]

1. .

[leftyclimber]

2. Not even in a zoo.

And certainly not in the 27 years I lived in Oregon, either.

It looks like a kangaroo-deer hybrid. Weird.

[stevedeshazer]

4. I want one

Cutest critter ever.

[leftyclimber]

6. Do you think they could be housebroken?

I'm kinda curious myself...

[stevedeshazer]

8. Word is they're kinda like rabbits

Rabbits can be housebroken and make good pets.

The downside is, these kids rescued someone's pet and that someone is going to claim it. Or, maybe they get to keep it.

They're docile and vegetarians.

[leftyclimber]

11. I wonder if someone managed to smuggle it across a bunch of borders.

If I had that little guy without a permit there's no way I'd fess up to it being mine. Instant arrest.

It'll probably end up living at the zoo.

But if it's like a rabbit you could box train it and it's probably sweet as all get-out.

[DarkTirade]

12. Someone's pet...

or someone's dinner? :shrug:

[Pierre.Suave]

3. That thing is...

weird.

[Xipe Totec]

5. It's a basselope. Used in military black ops.

[Adsos Letter]

7. Hey...I've seen one of those...

looks like lepus photoshoppicus to me...

[stevedeshazer]

9. It's for real

It's big news here in Stumptown.

[Radio_Lady]

14. It's been on local TV this evening. Related to guinea pigs (cavies)

Sorry for the misspelling if there is one.

[stevedeshazer]

16. Hi, Radio Lady!

Cute little bugger, isn't it? :)

[Radio_Lady]

20. Hi-ho, Steverino! Whazzup?

[yellowdogintexas]

10. OSCAR?????? Is That You? nt

[Lil Missy]

13. Looks like a cross between a rabbit and a donkey.

:shrug:

[flvegan]

15. Jackalope.

[Critters2]

26. Well, if it is, it must be a female.

Cuz it doesn't have antlers.

[Hand]

17. Oh, sure. That's a...

a... that's a... a... what the hell is that? :rofl:

[Corgigal]

18. its a Patagonian Cavey

and if youre in the Houston area, someone has one up for sale. SO cute

http://houston.craigslist.org/pet/645121444.html

[stevedeshazer]

22. I wanna take him home

[driver8]

19. It's a Chupacabra!!!

Run, people...run!!

He's pretty cute, though.

[TroglodyteScholar]

21. I saw a few of them once...I think at the Birmingham Zoo

But definitely not something you expect to just happen upon!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. Took a pic of one last year at the National Zoo...

They called it a Mara or Patagonian Cavy

The NZP site says they're one of the few monogamous mammals. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/SmallMammals/fact-mara.cfm

[Robb]

24. Monogamous, my left foot

...With that cuteness level, it's getting plenty of... ah, heck. Tail. :D

[stevedeshazer]

25. Yeah, that's it!

The one in your picture looks younger, or maybe smaller (are female cavies smaller?)

Thanks!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. I don't know if they're smaller...

They're really delicate-looking with those dainty little legs. :hi: