Anybody know what creature that is? My sister sent him to me, and he looks adorable.
I would take some snow right know as opposed to cold and wet, my least favorite combination.
Here’s a wide open thread for a Sunday afternoon.
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bcw
weasel
WaterGirl
Okay, I’ll start.
I like the sound of that!
Doc Sardonic
Looks like an Ermine
Ohio Mom
I googled “white minx” because that was my guess and got this: “Also known as the short-tailed weasel or stoat, the ermine is Alaska’s cute, color-changing weasel.”
So a weasel, a stoat or an ermine, but not a minx. Which makes sense, I’ve never seen a white minx (when I was a little girl, it seemed like every adult woman had a fur coat).
WaterGirl
From (fake) Jack Smith:
Santos has already filed 4 ethics complaints. Not sure who is named in them.
p.a.
Weasel family, I don’t think a fisher. Do minks turn white in winter?
WaterGirl
@Doc Sardonic: @Ohio Mom: Whatever he is, I stand by “adorable”. I just want to make sure he isn’t a lethal killing machine with an adorable face, inside an adorable body.
Are weasels, stoats and ermines dangerous?
Scout211
I have no clue what that animal is. It looked like a while ferret or weasel to me, but google tells me it is an Ermine.
Mustela Erminia
And it’s also called a short-tailed weasel.
But I plead ignorance.
The Golux
@p.a.:
FYI, the plural of mink is…mink. (My wife’s family had a mink ranch until the mid ’60s. Her job was to make sure they had water. We still have some ceramic plates with “Purina Mink Chow” on the side.)
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Ohio Mom: My mom had what I guess you’d call a stole. Whole animals, with one’s teeth hanging on to the tail of the other. It was one of her prized possessions.
Doc Sardonic
@WaterGirl: They are only dangerous if you are a rodent, or in the case of their relative the mongoose a cobra.
RSA
@Ohio Mom: Nice. Google Images finds a very similar wikipedia image of what they call a long-tailed weasel.
smith
Oh, yeah — if you’re a mouse or vole or other little critter. All mustelids are vicious killing machines. They’re predators, after all.
laura
That weasel’s an ermine. I’m making a rigatoni pasta bake with ricotta and garlicky lemony spinach and a red sauce that has the house smelling really nice. It should be like a low effort lasagna.
Marc
You’re right, they are lethal killing machines. I won’t tell you how ermines manage to kill rabbits a couple of times their size.
WaterGirl
Jen Psaki is calling it like it is:
Yes. The creepy Speaker of the House is a danger. Can even a Democrat call for a vote for a new Speaker? I would like to see all the “conservative” Republicans have to either vote against him or vote for him, now that everyone knows just how extreme and scary this guy is.
Of course, we would need to wait until there is funding for Ukraine before making a move like that.
Splitting Image
@WaterGirl:
From Wikipedia:
There may be good horror movie waiting to be made about a stoat-xenomorph hybrid. Maybe a cute, cuddly species of aliens being bred for their fur without anybody studying their feeding habits or how big they can grow.
Chacal Charles Calthrop
@WaterGirl: No idea whether ermine are dangerous to anyone else, but royal families are dangerous for them: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a43482584/king-charles-coronation-outfit-attire
also: https://www.fur.org/the-royal-touch-ermine/
a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio)
That’s some variety of ermine, in its winter coat, or possibly a least weasel in its winter coat. Some kind of tiny mustelid, AKA weasel, all tiny and white & cute and vicious.
Adorable AND savage.
WaterGirl
@Marc: Thank you for that information, and special thanks for not detailing the ugliness of the bunny kills.
WaterGirl
@Chacal Charles Calthrop: Dare I click?
edit:
No ermines were hurt during the making of this royal garment.Um, I mean, No comment.
Chacal Charles Calthrop
@WaterGirl: I’m sure the ermines in question were hurt but they also would have long ago died of old age if they weren’t.
OlFroth
Its something the Tasmanian Devil eats, along with goats, shoats, ostriches, aardvarks, ants, bears, boars, cats, bats, dogs, hogs, elephants, antelopes, pheasants, ferrets, giraffes, gazelles, etc.
lowtechcyclist
A song I recall from childhood suggests that one can identify a weasel by its distinctive ‘pop’ sound.
smith
For another view of stoats’ character, check out The Wind in the Willows. The stoats were the gang that carried out a home invasion of Toad Hall.
WaterGirl
@OlFroth: You guys are a font of information!
Betsy
It’s a mink or marten in its winter coat, aka an ermine. How beautiful!
Betsy
@p.a.: Yes, some do
zhena gogolia
You like that ermine because he looks like Henry.
Eyeroller
@Doc Sardonic: Since I am one of the local pedants, mongooses (that is the correct plural even though I have an urge to call them mongeese) are more closely related to cats than to weasels. They are in the feliformia branch of carnivores, whereas weasels are caniformia.
Betsy
I love the word “stoat” because of its Monty python connexion. Bookshop sketch, in which the bookseller holds up for the customer’s inspection a volume titled, “Mrs. Gladys Stoat-Pamphlett and her Intrepid Spaniel, Stig, Amongst the Giant Pygmies of Beccles.”
Once was perusing a highway map of the U.K. and noticed that Beccles is a town near the east coast of England.
Ladyraxterinok
Many of Stephen Jay Gould’s works are available to read free online at freenovelread.com
I just started reading his book The Hedgehog and the Fox there
kalakal
@Chacal Charles Calthrop:
Also members of the House of Lords who like to refer to accepting a peerage as “taking the ermine”. A good way to puncture their pomposity is to call their robes “stoat coats”
Wave Function Collapse
I’ve seen these in two different local settings here on the upper left coast.
I’ve always suspected that they are like coyotes and big felids in this area. More common than you think but good at staying out of sight.
Betsy
https://www.nps.gov/articles/netn-species-spotlight-short-tailed-weasel.htm
^^ Fascinating article from the National Park Service about stoats/ermines with pictures and notes on their cultural significance in heraldry and other lore, and how incredibly effective they are at hunting.
Lethe
@a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio): You’ve got that right! We had a pair outside our cabin in Talkeetna, they were a blast to watch. In the winter they play like otters in the snow banks, making slides and tunnels. The snow bank will be pure white and then you see 2 little black eyes and the black nose poking out.
They also broke into the shed where we were hanging a moose quarter, and we had to use brooms to get them off the meat and out of the shed. I seriously thought they would come straight up the brooms at us. No fear in ermines.
kalakal
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld had a down market relative of the weasel called the vermine.
Ladyraxterinok
@Ladyraxterinok:
The correct title is The Hedgehog, the Fox, and the Magister’s Pox
topclimber
It is a white weasel, abundant in much of the US.
eclare
@kalakal:
How are your teeth doing?
pluky
I think I have an exact match!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haida_ermine
Wapiti
Reminds me of the National Parks Service tweet, which said:
Did you know if you hold an ermine up to your ear, you can hear what it’s like to be attacked by an ermine?
Geminid
@WaterGirl: Two of the of Santos’s targets are Reps. Lawler and Malliatokis(sp?). He accused Malliotakis of insider stock trades. The others are probably also New York Reps. who voted to expel Santos.
I think Santos is using open source information here and nothing much will come of any Ethics Committee probes. But Democratic challengers can still say, “lol, you got accused of ethics violations by George Santos!“
Another Scott
@pluky: I can do you one better.
MindenPictures.com – short tailed weasel in Yellowstone
;-)
(via TinEye.com)
Cheers,
Scott.
kalakal
@eclare:
Much better thank you. The surgeon couldn’t operate as the abcess was too big and nasty but by saturday the antibiotics really started to kick in and the swelling has really come down as has the pain 😀😀😀 Root canal now scheduled for next friday, he seemed to think the tooth itself wasn’t too bad, get rid of the infection and should be back to normal. It’s still sorr but nothing like 2 days ago
zhena gogolia
@Ladyraxterinok: I thought that was by Isaiah Berlin?
Matt McIrvin
@WaterGirl:
Well, I’ve got one of those at home.
(A lethal killing machine, not a weasel or stoat)
Frank Wilhoit
@Ohio Mom: “minx” is not the plural of, nor yet even a fundamental alternative to, mink.
zhena gogolia
@Ladyraxterinok: Okay, you confused me!
Comes from Archilochus originally, I guess.
Frank Wilhoit
@WaterGirl: No one is taking his calls.
MomSense
I’m painting ceilings today. Not my favorite chore.
smith
@Geminid: Another was that Dem who opened the fire door during a vote on the Speaker. He pleaded to a misdemeanor, but apparently his crime is too great to be forgiven.
As I understand it, now that Santos is a private citizen, any ethics complaint he files has to be endorsed by a member of the House.
TriassicSands
@smith:
The NY Times had an article this past week about the overdue listing of lower 48 wolverines as endangered. The accompanying photo showed an impossibly beautiful coat attached to a critter that can face down a grizzly bear (and win — bears are too smart generally to risk getting their faces torn up by an animal that would probably kick a honey badger’s ass). In addition, the wolverine’s feet looked like paws modified as snowshoes or vice versa.
The two North American terrestrial mammals I have never seen in the wild that top my list of “wannasees” are wolverines and mountain lions. Given how much time I spent in the wilderness in places where mountain lions are present, my never having seen one is a disappointment. On the other hand, the chances of seeing a wolverine in the wild are remote at best. They are secretive and there are only 300 (estimated) in the lower 48.
Check out the Times article about wolverines being listed as endangered. I have things I have to do right this minute. The critter’s coat is, to me at least, unbelievably beautiful. Meeting her or him close up might not be so “beautiful” unless all the red-stained snow is to your liking.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: Oh my gosh, you could be right!
And what you don’t know is that Henry loves to stand up on his back legs. He could be a dancer! How funny.
smith
@TriassicSands: I saw this documentary a while back about what it takes to study them. Apparently it’s quite a challenge unless you’re willing to devote your life to it.
zhena gogolia
@WaterGirl: I think you have a picture where he’s doing that!
WaterGirl
@pluky: I think you are right!
WaterGirl
@Wapiti: hahaha
I guess they’re not cuddlers.
WaterGirl
@Another Scott: show-off! :-)
You do have amazing google fu.
WaterGirl
@Matt McIrvin:
Dare we ask who or what you are referring to?
WaterGirl
@Frank Wilhoit:
I bet that pisses him off more than anything.
dc
@WaterGirl: If you’re they’re prey, yes, quite dangerous. They are carnivores.
WaterGirl
@MomSense: That must mean you bought a house? Congratulations! Is it the one you told us about?
WaterGirl
@smith: What did the fire alarm fellow ever do to Santos (baby)?
ArchTeryx
I’ll say the same thing I say about all predators. You want to be overrun with mice, rats, rabbits and other such prey animals? Kill off all the predators. At least these days minks are farmed for their fur rather than killing off all the wild predators.
They’re vicious little killing machines, yes, but I’ve also seen them when they aren’t in hunting mode and they’re incredibly fun to watch. They can outrun and outmaneuver just about anything. They are not apex predators, however: Larger predators like hawks and owls will also prey on them – if they can catch them. (Good luck).
They change fur color to blend in because like most predators, they’re ambushers.
Matt McIrvin
@WaterGirl: An ornery kitty who is something of an escape artist and an enthusiastic despoiler of wildlife if she gets out.
Baud
@MomSense:
MomSenseangelo!
Delk
Jalapeño and ghost pepper mac and cheese for dinner. My sinuses have been cleared.
Geminid
@smith: The Democrat would be Jamaal Bowman (NY-16). That’s a very safe Democratic seat, but Bowman will likely face a strong primary challenge from the Westchester County Executive.
I doubt if the fire alarm incident will be an issue there. Bowman’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be one, though.
If Albany Democrats have their way, this and other New York Congressional districts will be redrawn. That could help or hurt Bowman some.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: There’s a good chance of that.
Heidi Mom
@TriassicSands: I enjoyed reading A Solitude of Wolverines, the first in a series of mystery novels by Alice Henderson. The protagonist is a wildlife biologist. Next up are polar bears, caribou, and (next March) jaguars.
zhena gogolia
@Baud: Does she have Rex Harrison standing below and nagging her?
Barney
@kalakal: “This is finest leather-trimmed ermine with gold medallion accessories.”
“Oh, go on, Mr. Blackadder, it’s cat. Look, they’ve left the little collars on.”
“Mr. Frisky. If found, please return to Emma Hamilton, Marine Parade, Portsmouth”.
The King of Blackadder 👑🇬🇧 on X: “‘”Ah, well, who cares about a dead cat now that I’m a fat cat.” #Blackadder https://t.co/qqsKqtCAkx” / X (twitter.com)
Heidi Mom
@WaterGirl: Speaking of the creepy Speaker, CNN reported recently that he endorsed, and in fact wrote the foreword to, a “dear friend[‘s]” far-right book criticizing the Secretary of Transportation for being “openly, and obnoxiously, gay” (and for demonstrating “queer sanctimony,” whatever that is). It’s disgusting that Pete and Chasten have to constantly see and hear this crap, and I’m also afraid that eventually they’ll reach their breaking point, load the twins and the dog into the minivan, and head back home to Michigan, leaving DC in the dust. (Satby, if this sounds familiar, it’s because I just said something similar on Facebook.)
Martin
@WaterGirl: A president with absolute immunity could legally stage a self-coup, order the military to seize election machines, and stay in office forever (nobody would ever consider doing this, amirite). Even this Supreme Court won’t deviate from this decision because to do so is to invite the end of the republic.
TriassicSands
@smith:
There may be people who study them and have to wait years just to see one. They are amazing critters. If you didn’t see the photo in the times, just search for it and the picture may be visible without even going to the Times to read the article.
smith
@TriassicSands: I just looked at it (It’s here via web archive if anyone’s interested). Yikes — no question as to whether that’s a vicious killing machine.
Dan B
@Matt McIrvin: I’ve also got a beautiful grey striped killing machine with beautiful white eyeliner. He’s asleep on the sofa with a light grey paw sticking out. My partner calls them “mouse monsters”. Appropriate.
kalakal
If you want a cute, cuddly mustelid get a ferret. They’re smart, fun, very playful and athletic, they’re also the bendiest things in existence, they make cats look arthritic. They just love to wrap themselves around stuff.
There is however a big but. People will smell you coming 30ft away. Ferret urine is really pungent.
evodevo
@WaterGirl:
They are to rabbits and chickens…
evodevo
@Marc: Yeah..you will never forget the screaming from the rabbit..
anitamargarita
Some years ago when I lived in Alaska, a friend who was involved in critter rescue, was presented with a tiny scrap of an abandoned baby mink that had been found on a beach by kayakers. The little guy could stretch out in the palm of your hand, had to be bottle fed with kitten formula, groomed with a little toothbrush and cotton pads, like an unweaned kitten. We met Steve Kroeschel (the guy in the PBS video) at his refuge to see about placing this little rescue there. For various reasons that didn’t work out, and the mink continued to live with us. Really an amazing animal, never vicious or destructive, playful in the water, good in harness out in the snow, playful with dogs and with us. My friend was in the process of getting official permission to keep him as an ambassador animal, when he died suddenly of a stroke at 9 months of age. We were all heartbroken.
Kroeschel’s place was amazing, from the baby porcupine and arctic foxes to the caribou and wolves, and of course the mustelids: mink, pine martens and the wolverines. Highly recommend the video, and a visit to his place if you should ever get up that way.
MomSense
@WaterGirl:
Not yet – doing the last project before I sell my house. Photos are Sunday
jeffreyw
I’ve never seen a live bobcat, we’ve been here for nearly 40 years. We see them nearly every week on our trail cams.
MomSense
@Baud:
HA!!! I’ve got the sore neck but the masterpiece is just flat white.
jeffreyw
@evodevo:
Red in tooth and claw.
TriassicSands
So, why do I want to pet it and play fetch?
I’ve always thought they are one of the most extraordinary animals anywhere. They top out at about 70 pounds, but average about 25-30 pounds less than that, but I have seen a video of a confrontation with a grizzly bear and the big guy decided that discretion was the better part of valor and backed off. This isn’t a case of a pack of wolves mixing it up with a bear, but rather a single wolverine that weighs maybe a tenth of what the bear weighs and in Alaska the difference might be even greater. With wolves, a pack has an advantage because they can surround the bear and attack its hind quarters. I can’t even imagine what wolverine mating would be like. Two, bad tempered “misanthropes” getting together when hormones are raging. No wonder there are so few in the lower 48, attempted mating might be unsurvibable. Not really, nature has a way of making mating survivable unless you’re a male black widow spider or preying mantis. (I know it is “praying” mantis, but preying seems just as apt.)
MomSense
@zhena gogolia:
I wish! His son Noel did sing for me for my sweet sixteenth birthday party. He was a good friend of my parents and we used to go hear him play (my stepdad would sit in with him) and I often did little dances with him. He was a lovely person.
RandyG
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Lady With an Ermine.”
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Lady_with_an_Ermine_-_Leonardo_da_Vinci_%28adjusted_levels%29.jpg/892px-Lady_with_an_Ermine_-_Leonardo_da_Vinci_%28adjusted_levels%29.jpg
Nettoyeur
@WaterGirl: If you are a small mammal or lizard or baby bird, yes, very dangerous. Also, too, they are so into rough sex that an Australian pet store had to put up a sign saying that what looked like mayhem was just weasel love.
Misswhatsis
@WaterGirl: very if you’re a chicken or similar sized fauna. They’re murderous bastids. Cute, though
zhena gogolia
@MomSense: Oh, I used to have a crush on him! Wasn’t he on The Girl from UNCLE?
zhena gogolia
@MomSense:
I love this one.
MomSense
@zhena gogolia:
Yes, I think he was.
MomSense
@zhena gogolia: It’s a classic. He was so young in that video.
Misterpuff
@Frank Wilhoit: Yes, but a minx in a mink can be a maneater.
zhena gogolia
@MomSense: Nice to hear that he was nice. His phrasing is so good in that song.
lowtechcyclist
@topclimber:
It’s a nice day for a white weasel.
Maxim
@Ladyraxterinok: There’s an excellent chance that the books at that site are pirated, aka stolen, and have not in fact been made available with the authors’ knowledge.
wjca
Briefly, they can find absolutely nothing to fault in his job performance. So this is what they’re down to. Something of a flattering endorsement, if you look at it right.
WaterGirl
@Martin:
That’s what I think, too. Plus, they already have their court seats and Trump is an old stick of dynamite just waiting to explode. I can’t imagine they think he’s an asset at this point. If they did, they wouldn’t hesitate to put their collective thumbs on the scale, the law be damned.
WaterGirl
@MomSense: Ah, okay.
WaterGirl
@Nettoyeur:
that’s awesome.
jonas
@ArchTeryx: There’s a popular YouTube channel featuring a guy who takes in minks (many of them rescued from fur farms) and trains them to hunt vermin, esp. rats, on ranches and chicken farms and the like. That’s when you learn why they have those lean, long bodies. Boy damn, can they scurry down a gopher or rat hole in a hurry and, well, control those pests.
Barney
@kalakal: Ferrets are domesticated European polecats, whose scientific name is Mustela putorius – “stinking weasel” (as in “putrid”). The “pole” may refer to eating poultry, or could be a variant of “foul” – “foul marten” is an alternative name.