Mystery weasels: The Peterson's Field Guide to Mammals shows a Longtail
Weasel (Mustela Frenata): Longtail Weasel is the name of the species, not
just a description.  This is described as the most widely distributed
weasel in north america - and while the basic picture shows it as brown on
the top and white underneath - with a black tip of the tail - there is a
variation pictured with a white face, marked by a pointy brown mask.  So,
that must be what those New Mexico animals were - cousins to ferrets, but
not ferrets.
 
Winter coats: My 2 MF ferrets have the softest nicest thickest winter
coats...
 
Darkness: My ferrets like to sleep in a box full of rags & cloth scraps &
old t-shirts - both dark and snuggly.  Mid sized box with lid, cut 2 holes
in the sides, fill it with cloth - they love it.  (They'd been sleeping in
my sewing scraps til I moved them...
 
keep on dookin!
---sharin
chloe
& ramon
[Posted in FML issue 2516]