Cliff and tweets,
I looked up measurements and descriptions of Muskrat, Long-tailed Weasel
and Mink in Ingles, Mammals of the Pacific States. The lengths it gives
are Muskrat: Total-~20", tail is 7-8", body: 12-13". Color is dull rusty
brown-dark brown all over. Mink: Total-20-30 inches, tail is 6-7.5",
body:13-23". Color is brown to dark brown all over. Long-tailed Weasel:
total:~16", tail is 4.5-6.5", body:9.5"-11.5". Color is uniform brown
above. Of these animals though only the Muskrat or Mink would be 3-4"
accross. I would go by either Mink or Muskrat based on your description.
Usually Muskrat can apprear gray, Minks to me usually appear Chocolate
Brown. So I would lean towards Muskrat, but I could not rule out Mink but
your description. Let me know if you get a better look as a good look at
the tail would be difintive.

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA

"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood


On Sat, 12 Dec 1998, Cliff Drake wrote:

> I made a brief stop this morning at the new ponds at Golden Gardens Park
> and saw a small mammal swimming and diving in the north (? the one on the
> right as you cross the bridge) pond. It seemed too small to be an otter
> or a muskrat, my initial estimate was 14 to 18 inches long without tail,
> 3 or 4 inches across. Its tail wasn't noticeable. It made only two brief
> appearances before it disappeared, but an arm of that pond is out of
> sight from the bridge. Color-wise it was a brownish gray, but everything
> looked gray, the rain, the water, the sky, the ducks... The Audubon Guide
> says the Long-Tailed Weasel is a good swimmer - I wish I could give more
> information, but it gave me only a brief look - any ideas?
>
> The ducks, gulls and starlings love the rain it seems. The lawn from the
> Teen Center to the ponds was covered with Mallards and Wigeons, gulls and
> starlings. At least 300 ducks, probably more. The rain keeps the dogs and
> kite flyers away...
> =================
> Cliff Drake
> Seattle, (Ballard) WA
> Birder at Juno.com
>
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