Adopted by an Ermine: A Log House Story

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences of participants with wildlife, particularly focusing on the interactions with ermines and other members of the weasel family. It includes personal anecdotes about encounters with these animals, their behaviors, and comparisons to domestic ferrets. The scope encompasses observational accounts and reflections on animal behavior.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their experience of an ermine living in their sister's log house, noting its effectiveness in controlling mice populations.
  • Another participant recounts a friendly encounter with a ferret during grad school, highlighting the animal's sociable nature.
  • A different participant mentions having possums in their house, which prefer cat food, contrasting with the ermine's dietary preferences.
  • Some participants discuss the social behaviors of domestic ferrets compared to wild weasels, noting that wild weasels are generally solitary except during mating.
  • There is a mention of the practicality of weasels moving into the dens of their prey, with one participant describing this behavior as creepy yet efficient.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share various personal experiences and observations, but there is no consensus on the nature of these animals or their behaviors. The discussion includes differing views on the social structures of weasels and ferrets.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect personal anecdotes and may not encompass the full range of behaviors exhibited by these animals. The discussion includes assumptions about animal behavior that are not universally agreed upon.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in wildlife behavior, personal anecdotes about animal encounters, or those curious about the differences between domestic and wild members of the weasel family may find this discussion engaging.

turbo
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My wife and I have a wonderful little place with a nice garden spot, wild berries, and standing timber. My sister and her boyfriend are in a similar situation, and also live in a log house. The difference? They have been adopted by an ermine. The ermine gets in and out of the house by squeezing through a plumbing cut-out and as long as they don't get too close to it, it patrols the house looking for mice. They have not had any problems with mice this fall and winter, while many houses in this area are getting invaded. They leave out small bowls of meat and water - the ermine won't touch cat food, but seems to enjoy turkey and ham.

To anyone who has not seen an ermine in the wild, they are fearless and intensely curious critters. While I was hunting one day last fall, one popped its head out of a little brush pile, and when it saw me, it kept popping its head out closer and closer to me, until eventually, it emerged from the pile maybe 8' from me and stood on its hind legs, rocking from side to side while looking me over. Ferrets do this when they are being cautious while trying to satisfy their curiosity.
 
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turbo-1 said:
My wife and I have a wonderful little place with a nice garden spot, wild berries, and standing timber. My sister and her boyfriend are in a similar situation, and also live in a log house. The difference? They have been adopted by an ermine. The ermine gets in and out of the house by squeezing through a plumbing cut-out and as long as they don't get too close to it, it patrols the house looking for mice. They have not had any problems with mice this fall and winter, while many houses in this area are getting invaded. They leave out small bowls of meat and water - the ermine won't touch cat food, but seems to enjoy turkey and ham.

To anyone who has not seen an ermine in the wild, they are fearless and intensely curious critters. While I was hunting one day last fall, one popped its head out of a little brush pile, and when it saw me, it kept popping its head out closer and closer to me, until eventually, it emerged from the pile maybe 8' from me and stood on its hind legs, rocking from side to side while looking me over. Ferrets do this when they are being cautious while trying to satisfy their curiosity.
Cool!

When I was in grad school, I was sitting in the living room/dining room/kitchen area of a two bedroom ground-floor apartment when I looked out to the patio and saw a ferret at the sliding glass door. I opened the door and he came wandering in. The little guy was pretty cool and friendly. However, within a day, I found the owner who came by to retrieve his little friend.
 
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All I ever got was possums in my house. They love cat food.
 
Thanks for introducing me to yet another woodland creature from North America, turbo. :)

stood on its hind legs, rocking from side to side while looking me over. Ferrets do this when they are being cautious while trying to satisfy their curiosity.

An American cousin of the meerkat, you think?
 
neutrino said:
Thanks for introducing me to yet another woodland creature from North America, turbo. :)

An American cousin of the meerkat, you think?
Domestic ferrets will do things communally, like meerkats, including sleeping in a big pile and engaging in play as a group.

In contrast, wild members of the weasel family in North America (ermines, weasels, minks, martens, fishers, etc) are loners. The mother will raise her kits and teach them to hunt, then sends them off on their own. The males and females meet to mate, but that's about the extent of their involvement.

Weasels sure are cute, though, especially when they've got their winter fur.
http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/weasel.html
 
neutrino said:
Creepy.
Pretty practical, actually. Most members of the weasel family are very good at tunneling, but why dig a new den when you can move into the place that a rabbit dug out? Weasels can move around a lot, and when they have depleted their prey in one area, they can easily set up housekeeping in another area by killing an animal in a new location and moving into its former home.
 

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