>
> Dear Tweeters,
> We were about halfway through the loop when we saw two painted
> turtles, baby and adult. They were very interesting to look at because
> they did not move at all. My mom and I had to go back early because I had
> to get to a play. While we were walking back we saw a weasel or ferret start
> to run up and down the path and then it ran into the forest. Do you think
> it was a weasel or ferret?
>
> -Bo


Bo,

Ferrets do not occur in the wild in Washington, but they are often sold
as pets, so you might have seen a released pet. However, it's more
likely by saw a Weasel (_Mustela frenata_) or an Ermine (_Mustela
erminea_). Weasels and Ermines are hard to tell apart from a distance.
Both are brownish on top and white underneath. If the animal you saw was
as big as a cat and dark all over, it might have been a Mink (_Mustela
vison_).

Sounds like you had a nice trip. I'm jealous!

Kelly Cassidy
WA Coop. Fish&Wildlife Research Unit
Box 357980
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, 98195
kelly at u.washington.edu