Well, it wasn't a nutria, since we don't have them around here. I'd love to see one running across the street, though!

Seeing the tail definitely helped. I couldn't find ANYTHING without a tail that looked like the first animal. Do muskrats or 'possums run with their tails held straight? Now I'm pretty sure it was one of those, which sucks all the fun out of it. New Holland could use a small, rodenty chupacabra.