Is the following first new videotape a mystery animal that you can identify?

Does the state of video technology tease us into thinking we can get images of cryptids that will assist the advancement of cryptozoology? Is this just a long distance view of a beaver or other known small mammal swimming across a waterway?

The first tape is the “mystery animal.” The ones that follow are of two known animals frequently seen swimming in Maine – beavers and moose. At the bottom is the details on the first video.

I shot this video on March 31, 2007 in Northern Maine. My Great-Uncle lives up there and told me had seen some animal he could not recognize swimming around in the river down the road from his camp. He had seen it about 5-6 times in a 3-week period. Sadly, the land-owners around the river take the No Trespassing laws very seriously, and he has only been able to see it from a footbridge that crosses over the river. I went up to visit him to see if there was any truth to the story, as he was very worked up. I also have to say that my Uncle is an avid hunter and fisherman for over 50 years, and he could not figure out what this was. After hanging around the bridge for over 3 days looking for something to tape, I saw a dark object crossing on the afternoon of the 31st. I have posted this footage, and edited out the rest of the tape. I’m not saying what it is, because I really have no idea. I couldn’t get too close and the zoom on my old camera is awful. Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks. YouTube poster

What is it?

Thanks to John Kirk for pointing this one out.