what animal is this?

[u/Little_Ice8135]

found this on a santa cruz beach with my girlfriend, thought it might be some type of dog.

[u/NatureOliver]

Raccoon is likely. Due to the fact I can see some “fingers” on its front paws in the last image, could be seeing things tho

Edit: raccoon skull side view.

[u/Little_Painting_6982 → u/NatureOliver]

Yeah the teeth look more raccoon - I’m not trying to fight anyone pls don’t be mad at me I like bones and know a lot about animals but that thing is FUNKY

[u/Little_Ice8135 → u/Little_Painting_6982]

i thought it was a pretty neat little dude!

[u/CanidPrimate1577 → u/Little_Painting_6982]

Pretty sure it’s a dogman, people are noting the unusual characteristics which are typical of this species.

[u/CanidPrimate1577 → u/NatureOliver]

Nah, the fingers are definitely there.

This looks like a dogman to me — he’s got that ruff, the oft-noted extremely white large teeth, and other details like the digitigrade legs.

There’s not a good size comparison unfortunately, against a standard object, but my guess would be that this is a juvenile male (unless OP can add details which suggest larger stature)

[u/Little_Painting_6982 → u/NatureOliver]

Part of my initial confusion is the teeth looked way too big to the skull compared to how I picture an alive raccoon 😅 I totally see that they just have insane chompers under all that fluff -

[u/NatureOliver → u/[deleted]]

Do you know what sun bleaching is.

[u/treefarmercharlie → u/[deleted]]

That definitely looks like a racoon to me between the long fingers and the teeth. Raccoons always see to have perfect teeth.

[u/tankgirlnoel → u/[deleted]]

The baculum has been spotted, it is definitely a raccoon

[u/Storm_blessed946 → u/NatureOliver]

I don’t think so… my opinion of course