An unwanted passenger

[NeoBlackdog]

We headed out to do chores this morning and my dog was going nuts at the back of the truck. First saw this little critter on top of the spare tire and then he jetted up to the engine compartment. I've seen lots and lots of pictures and a few stuffed ones, but this is the first ermine I've seen in the wild.

Read More

 

[Knobgoblin]

It's a boot oiler!

 

[64MercurysRule]

Is that a wild white Weasel ?

 

[Dozer99]

That is a Ermine. Also known as a Stoat. Very cool creatures and snake killer extraordinaire!

Here is some info: https://animalia.bio/ermine

 

[64MercurysRule]

Learned something new ......

stoat is a small, agile predator that turns white in the winter, and is then called an ermine.

Appearance:

• Stoats have chestnut-colored backs and white underbellies in the summer.
• In the winter, stoats turn white, except for the tip of their tail.
• Stoats have black-tipped tails.

Habitat:

• Stoats can be found in a variety of habitats, including mainland Britain.
  
  
• Ermine are found in Alaska, alpine areas, and most of North America.
  

Behavior:

• Stoats are energetic hunters that can take on prey much larger than themselves.
  
  
• Stoats are solitary animals, with males and females living in separate territories.
  
  
• In the winter, stoats are almost exclusively nocturnal and travel as little as possible to conserve energy.
  

Etymology:

• The Latin name for the stoat is Mustela erminea, which refers to its ability to turn white in the winter, or ermine.
  
  
• The ability to turn white is a genetic trait that passes down through generations.

 

[Tlock]

We headed out to do chores this morning and my dog was going nuts at the back of the truck. First saw this little critter on top of the spare tire and then he jetted up to the engine compartment. I've seen lots and lots of pictures and a few stuffed ones, but this is the first ermine I've seen in the wild.

View attachment 2051131


View attachment 2051132

Hopefully he didn't use your pickup as his personal chew toy

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Last summer my wife got me the below print for my birthday. It's a picture of an ermine working his way up a crack in a rock face. The photographer said the crack was about 30' tall and the little guy made numerous attempts before finally getting to whatever he was after at the top.

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Hopefully he didn't use your pickup as his personal chew toy

I'm not too concerned about that, bein' as how he's not a rodent, but I definitely don't want him takin' up permanent residence!

 

[Tlock]

I'm not too concerned about that, bein' as how he's not a rodent, but I definitely don't want him takin' up permanent residence!

That dirty look he was giving you in the pic, he may just chew out of spite!

 

[DirectDrive]

Better put some rodent repellent in that engine compartment.
He's going in there for warmth and shelter.
I just went through $5000 in repairs for rodent damage to my main wiring harness.
Apparently some wire insulation is made from soy product and the critters like to eat it.

 

[Tlock]

Better put some rodent repellent in that engine compartment.
He's going in there for warmth and shelter.
I just went through $5000 in repairs for rodent damage to my main wiring harness.
Apparently some wire insulation is made from soy product and the critters like to eat it.

He's not a rodent. He's a weasel

 

[DirectDrive]

Toyota Tacoma
Toyota doesn't allow splicing of the main wiring harness so the entire harness has to be replaced.
With my model, the engine has to be unbolted and lifted to thread the wiring harness through.

The tech wrapped "rodent tape" onto the new harness.
I tried putting some moth balls in a potpourri bag out there too. No good.
The moth ball scent comes into the cabin.

My current deterrent is rodent tape, rodent repellent potpourri bag and a car air freshener.

 

[DirectDrive]

He's not a rodent. He's a weasel

He looks close enough to a rodent to me.
LOL

 

[Tlock]

I prefer to trap the little sucker's! I am currently on a rat killing mission! Dam things got into my pump house

 

[NeoBlackdog]

I prefer to trap the little sucker's! I am currently on a rat killing mission! Dam things got into my pump house

The Hav-a-hart is set and baited with a big ol' piece of hot dog.

 

[Tlock]

That guy id have to turn loose.....going soft in my old age

 

[NeoBlackdog]

That guy's id have to turn loose.....going soft in my old age

Yeah, me too, but ya know what? As long as he ain't killin' my chickens he and I'll get along just fine. There's plenty of rodents around here for him to munch on and as long as he limits his culinary expeditions to other small furry's I'm willing to live and let live.

 

[Tlock]

I let this guy go.

 

[Bill Siegle]

When I was a kid we had a family of those living in an old slab wood pile near the sawmill. Got to see it kill a rabbit once! Hit that bunny like a 357Magnum!!!!! Bunny and stoat rolled a bit on impact but only the stoat got up. Then it dragged the rabbit into the woodpile. Even the cute critters are deadly!

 

[titsonritz]

I thought it was a ferret at first.

Stoat, ferret, weasel (Mustelids)

Stoats, weasels, and ferrets are mustelids that prey on native birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. They can also be vectors of bovine TB.

www.ecan.govt.nz