Who dat?

[phylodog]

Living in the country we have mice and voles around. I keep traps set year round but don't see much activity near the house other than winter. I had a couple of traps set on the front porch and had forgotten about them. My wife is cleaning off the porch today and brings me a trap with this little feller in it. This is the first time I've seen or caught something like this and the only thing I can think of is a baby mink?

It's entirely possible its a species I'm unaware we have here but I'm definitely curious.

 

[Lpherr]

Someone's pet ferret.

 

[phylodog]

I'll be darned, I posted before I looked and it appears to be a weasel.

 

[Lpherr]

I'll be darned, I posted before I looked and it appears to be a weasel.

Weasel's, ferret's, mink's, and otter's are related. Part of the Mustelidae family.

Which does it taste like?

 

[Creedmoor]

Someone's freeze dried pet ferret.

FIFY

 

[Creedmoor]

Weasel's, ferret's, mink's, and otter's are related. Part of the Mustelidae family.

Which does it taste like?

Are you suggesting he "expresses" it and find out?

 

[Bollorollo]

Its a Mink.. I used to trap them years back..

 

[yetti462]

Least weasel.

 

[NHT3]

Weasel's, ferret's, mink's, and otter's are related. Part of the Mustelidae family.

Which does it taste like?

Good thing we don't step in in! Reference from a long ago comedy album probably few will understand.

 

[patience0830]

I'll be darned, I posted before I looked and it appears to be a weasel.

Least weasel. Shame to kill the little mouse eater but he'd be death on chickens so maybe a good thing.

 

[Leadeye]

Doesn't look very big, must be the lesser of two weasels.

 

[phylodog]

Least weasel. Shame to kill the little mouse eater but he'd be death on chickens so maybe a good thing.

I didn't figure they'd be a danger to adult chickens. We haven't had any issues I'd attribute to one but I do know they've voracious killers and punch well above their weight.

 

[patience0830]

Kill for fun, it seems. In 64 yrs I've only seen one live one here on the farm. Hunting chipmunks in the wood pile. I don't have chickens so I left him alone. Guess, like skunks, owls are their primary predators since they hunt mostly at night.

 

[phylodog]

Kill for fun, it seems. In 64 yrs I've only seen one live one here on the farm. Hunting chipmunks in the wood pile. I don't have chickens so I left him alone. Guess, like skunks, owls are their primary predators since they hunt mostly at night.

I never knew they existed here before today.

 

[VostocK]

I never knew they existed here before today.

Nor did I.

I seem to learn something new on this forum all the time.

 

[patience0830]

I never knew they existed here before today.

Nocturnal, tiny, secretive.

Easy to miss.
Like every other critter, population is gonna depend on habitat and food supply. You start having chickens and horses so the mice and voles have a food source. Snakes, skunks, weasels all just follow the food.

 

[phylodog]

Nocturnal, tiny, secretive.

Easy to miss.
Like every other critter, population is gonna depend on habitat and food supply. You start having chickens and horses so the mice and voles have a food source. Snakes, skunks, weasels all just follow the food.

We've expected mink since we moved here five years ago but thankfully haven't seen any evidence of any coming over from the creek. Possums, coons, groundhogs, fox, coyotes, hawks, eagles and owls all seem to make pretty regular appearances just to keep everyone on their toes.

 

[Hookeye]

Haven't seen a weasel for a few yrs.
Way back some 13 line spotted groundsquirrels were running all over a farm I groundhog hunted.
Acting crazy in a weedy spot.
Turns out a weasel was chasing em (daylight).

Maybe 5 yrs ago a weasel ran across the road (daylight), fall...........most woulda thought it just a leaf blowing across.

Have seen mink off and on.
Theyre way easier to spot LOL

 

[Cameramonkey]

Haven't seen a weasel for a few yrs.
Way back some 13 line spotted groundsquirrels were running all over a farm I groundhog hunted.
Acting crazy in a weedy spot.
Turns out a weasel was chasing em (daylight).

Maybe 5 yrs ago a weasel ran across the road (daylight), fall...........most woulda thought it just a leaf blowing across.

Have seen mink off and on.
Theyre way easier to spot LOL

Sure you have. Hogsett, Shreve, Todd Young, etc.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I see tracks in the snow along the creek up north a lot. Once in a while I get one in the flashlight on while I'm walking my wife to the outhouse. She makes me guard her while she is in there, yes.