I just had to speak up about something, and give you all food for
thought.  I used to be very full of myself thinking I would be able to
tell the difference between a mink, polecat, weasel, etc., from a mile
away.  No doubt.  I thought people were weird who mistakenly thought a
mink they found was a ferret (picture a very conceited Wolfy at this
point shaking her head and laughing at these people).  But then it
happened.
 
People knocked on my door informing my that one of my ferrets was killed
on the road.  When I went to look, I saw it wasn't one of mine.  But
what was it?  Gosh, it looked EXACTLY like a ferret, except it was dark
brown ... all over.  Ferrets aren't dark brown all over ... no ferret
is.  But it looked like a ferret... hmmm maybe someone did breed a black
ferret after all!  Nonono think Wolfy think.  It must be a mink I
thought.  But wait ... the minks online and on TV look so nimble and...
wirey... and quick.  This guy is huge.  He looks to be over three pounds,
and cuddly!  I finally took photos of the creature before I gave him a
nice burial.
 
I sent the photos around and it was id'ed as a mink.  I examined more
photos of mink ... yup, it was a mink ... had the classic bright white
spot under the chin.  How could I have doubted it was a mink?
 
I tell you, unless you come across another mustiled or like species in
an odd circumstance and all alone, you can't imagine how hard it can be
to id these creatures.  In a zoo exhibit, they are in huge colonies,
giving the eye a larger picture of them.  They are in environments that
purposefully show off their uniqueness ... that's the whole purpose of
the exhibit.  So of course in these circumstances a mink, will look like
a mink.  But if you see a weasel or polecat in the wild..... believe me
it's hard to differentiate between some of these species.  I get emails
from people all over the world with photos attached that they have taken
of some creature that wandered into their barn or something and I"m asked
"what is it".  They can compare the photos online and find out, but
yet..... they still doubt.  Just like I did.  And it's tough.
 
I just wanted to point this out okay?  And to have everyone keep an open
mind about this specific part of the issue.
 
Wolfy
 
Wolfy's site has MOVED to:
http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com/
[Posted in FML issue 4030]