It is making sounds like a seal's bark lowered 5 octaves, and seems angry and confused. It notices me and lunges. I jump out of the car just as the creature's foot crushes it like a Pepsi can. I run into the bushes on the side of the road and dial 911 on my cell phone as the creature stamps around in the road clearing, looking indecisive.

When the 911 operator asks me the nature of my emergency, I tell her that a fifty-foot mammalian creature has just appeared out of nowhere and stepped on my car. Apparently emergency teams aren't allowed to disbelieve calls, so the operator sighs and tells me an officer will be right over.

About twenty minutes later, the first police car arrives, and the creature is still standing in the roadway, looking around anxiously like a guy alone in a restaurant wondering if his date has snubbed him. When the cop assesses the situation, he doesn't bother to question me or take down my information or follow any of the standard procedures, he just calls for backup and maybe animal control.