A washed-up cow has led to bafflement in Burnham-on-Sea.
The decaying carcass is stuck near Burnham's Motor Boat and Sailing Club, close to the mouth of the River Parrett.
Several people in the Highbridge & Burnham Discussion Facebook group have claimed the cow has been there more than a week.
Burnham Coastguard Rescue Team posted a Facebook update saying it had been reported to the Environment Agency.
But the Environment Agency says the matter is in the hands of Sedgemoor District Council – which is yet to decide on a plan of action to deal with the animal's remains.
A council spokeswoman said: "The carcass is in the middle of a large patch of mud/soft sand which will not support vehicles.
"Carcasses of this nature will weigh in excess of 350kg, so can only be moved by machinery and it is in a decaying state.
"It could have been in the water for some time before being washed up at Burnham-on-Sea.
"We are trying to work out a safe way for staff and logistics to remove it. We are working with boat owners to see if the carcass can be moved by other methods to the slipway by the yacht club."
The council says it will be able to dispose of the cow once it is on solid ground.
The carcass, if it weighs 350kg, is less heavy than the 720kg of an average adult cow.
One woman wrote in Highbridge & Burnham Discussion: "What it's still there??? I phoned the council about it days ago!!!"
Another commented: "If that's the same one we saw it's been there for at least a week."
The spokeswoman said the council first became aware of the issue on Monday (May 18) and immediately went to investigate.
The origin of the cow is a mystery.
