Mr. Austin and what appears to be an example of Nasua narica.

Reporter Robert Boyer of the Burlington (NC) Times-News writes:

William Austin has lived in the country for most of his 66 years.

He’s seen his share of wildlife near his home at 4724 Cobb Road, a golf shot east of the Guilford County line off Spoon Road and N.C. 62 in southwestern Alamance County.

But nothing like this.

Several weeks ago, the lawnmower repairman spied a rather strange creature the size of large cat munching on a discarded tomato at the edge of his garden.

Whatever it was, this kitty looked like a genetics experiment gone awry, a strange amalgam of miniature bear paws, a raccoon’s ringed tail and an aardvark-like snout.

The exotic critter eventually wandered off into the woods but returned later that evening and pilfered some supper from a bird feeder in his yard before vanishing again.

Days rolled by and Austin saw no more of his hungry new friend.

On Monday, a neighbor called. It’s here— come and shoot it, she pleaded.

But Austin had a different plan.

“Nobody believed me when I told them. That’s why I thought I would go ahead and catch it.”

So he did, with a live trap cage.

Rest of the article, here.