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Arts & Entertainment

Expert Claims the Montauk Monster is a Raccoon


By

Jen Carlson

Published Jul 31, 2008

Modified Jul 31, 2008


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By

Jen Carlson

Published Jul 31, 2008

Modified Jul 31, 2008


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php0D9vdTPM.jpgYesterday Gawker posted a photo of what quickly became referred to as "the Montauk Monster." Lizzie Grubman jokes were made, spines shivered, conspiracy theorists pondered (the Montauk Project, anyone?), a new internet superstar was born, and most came to the conclusion that the thing that washed up near the Surfside Inn was a bloated turtle without its shell. Or a monster.

Now Fox News has brought in the experts (the full clip is after the jump). Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin, angered by a Red Sox loss and the stupidity of humans, says the public's fascination with the creature is unwarranted; what we thought was a beak are really teeth, he says, and clearly what we are looking at here is a raccoon. Or maybe a dog? But definitely not a monster!

As for the monster "raccoon," no one seems to know where it is now; NYMag says it was carted off by an old man declaring he would mount it to his wall. Meanwhile, PlumTV promises an interview with the photographer, Jenna Hewitt, tomorrow.

Tagged

animal

dog

fox news

Jeff Corwin

monster

Montauk

montauk monster

raccoon

the Montauk Project


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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