Mystery Mammal on Robertson Creek

          Matina's research group have deployed a thermal imaging camera high in the trees over Robertson Creek. This camera looks straight down on the creek the flows through the middle of the scene. On each side of the creek are arch-shaped areas that have been washed out by the stream and now are filled with vegetation. The 

edges of these are steep breaks, about 8' tall, and lead up to nearly level terraces on either side of the creek. There are two movies, you can see them if you click here. The trees and branches are dark (cold); the stream is nearly white (warm). In the movie, first you see a deer mouse moving in the forest (white=warm) and later a larger wood rat (white) is running around.  Notice how they move along sticks and logs. 

        In the second movie, a mystery animal shows up. It slinks along, crosses the creek and struggles to get up the steep edge of the terrace, then moves along the terrace and out of sight. The stream is about a meter wide. So. What do you think this could be?

 

A grey fox? 

A ring-tailed cat?

 

A young mountain lion?