Subject: Weaseling...
Date: May 30 00:11:19 1998
From: Tom Foote - footet at elwha.evergreen.edu



Lydia et al--

Tweets-

I dug out my copy of Burt & Grossenheider *Field Guide to the
Mammals* and offer the following:

Marten: head and body-males 16-17 inches..females, 14-15
inches..tail 8 - 9 inches male, 7-9 inches female..
so it's possible a male Marten can be
26 inches from head to tail.. that's quite a large animal.

the distribution graph for the Least Weasel shows it only as far
south as BC, so it's occurrence here is unlikely...yes, Tom,
it would be quite rare indeed :)
It also does not have a black tip on its tail.

It could have been either a ShortTail Weasel or a
LongTail Weasel. Both of them are primarily nocturnal,
but are sometimes quite active during the day.

I didn't keep a copy of your post, but I recall you
saw a definite black tip on the tail of these young
animals.. that being the case, and the fact we don't
have the Black Footed Ferret, makes it likely you
saw weasels..




Tom



Tom Foote footet at elwha.evergreen.edu
Lab II
The Evergreen State College (360) 866-6000 x6118
Olympia, WA 98505