I really struggle to get my head round weasels

[HoneyDragon]

I've seen them. I know what they look like, and often catch them whizzing across the road at weasel warp speed.

But their size always surprises me. Every time. I know they are small. But when you look at a picture of a weasel or think weasel, you think bigger. You don't think "oh, a weasel. That's a little bigger than a hamster that is". Or I don't. I go, ooooh a weasel. Wow, it's tiny, every time, the surprise never abates.

I struggle with weasel physics. That the actual weasel is not the size of the concept of weasel in my head.

I'm not sure how to fix it.

[Giggorata]

I just wanted to add to this ancient weasel thread that I have held baby weasels in my hands when rescuing them from traffic deaths in the middle of a country lane where they were following Mum, but got transfixed by fear as we loomed over them. They were so tiny and cute, totally unlike the razor fanged sinuous death dealing gore seekers they will become...

[LowDudgeon]

& now I have to resurrect it to bring you Ozzy the desk weasel (saw him on FB the other day)

NB weasels are not good pets (Ozzy's dad says so)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=d2CTVqt2wxU

[RustyBear]

Had to revive this thread to post this....

www.boredpanda.com/weasel-riding-woodpecker-wildlife-photography-martin-le-may/?image_id=weasel-riding-woodpecker-wildlife-photography-martin-le-may-1.jpg

[BoreOfWhabylon]

I want to be in the presence of weasels! if we believe in them, then they will come

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

I have been in the presence of weasels.
It was in the car par at the western end of Froggatt Edge, and I heard the unmistakable sound of aggressive mustelids. Three of them, chittering with rage and sinuously leaping about.
I was extremely conscious of my exposed toes peeping from my Tevas; their teeth were much in evidence. As the OP says, the size is all wrong.

[CalamityKate]

Oh whoops wrong thread!

[SoupDragon]

Wasn't there a MNer who thought Pine Martens went Marty Marty Marty?

[Hassled]

I have returned with the INSANE NEWS that Foosa are real things.

I'm watching Madagascar and as I'm now starting to doubt the wisdom of basing my entire knowledge of the animal kingdom on books and cartoons (thanks only to this thread}, I thought I'd turn to Google to check for accuracy.

And here they are. Actually Fossa but I prefer Foosa.

[HoneyDragon]

Trouser snakes tend to be indigenous to trousers rather than go up and own them.

[HoneyDragon]

Ferrets go down trousers.

Something to do with sailors.

[orangeandemons]

Are weasels the ones that people put down their trousers? Or is that ferrets? Or even trouser snakes.....?

[FringeEvent]

I mentioned this thread to DH earlier, and then showed him a weasel video on youtube () - totally blew his mind.

He's just returned the favour by asking me how big I imagine a kiwi (the bird) to be.

"Well", I said, "I've always assumed they're about the same size as a kiwi fruit."

Nope. This is how big a kiwi is.

[mignonette]

Why was the ferret at the wake??????

I am conjuring up a mental image of a 'Wind In The Willlows' style event with ferrets dressed up as Mafia type undertakers.....

[Trinpy]

Ferrets are evil. I have a scar across my nose from where a ferret attached itself to my face by its teeth at a friend's wake a few years ago . I had to prise its jaws apart with my thumbs just to get it off. Evil bastard.

I am learning a lot about woodland animals from this thread.

[HoneyDragon]

large furry pretzel

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Calamity I loved those books!

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Ferrets stink like pee. It's gross.

Are there racoons in England?

[BanjoPlayingTiger]

What a brilliant thread.
I too am shocked that weasels are tiny. Id have sworn they were the same size as ferrets.

I have seen a badger though. It was a LOT larger than i thought.

[JuliaScurr]

now an otter would be otterly different

[MacaYoniandCheese]

We have These. They are the stuff of urban legend...apparently they attack and kill pets and small children sometimes.

I could never get my head around why anyone would want to keep a ferret as a pet...we have neighbours that walk them on a leash and dress them up and have little hammocks for them. For weasels. Get a cat FFS or a hamster.

[mignonette]

Sorry ladybeagle

[mignonette]

adybeagle*

The wombat was called Fatso.

[mignonette]

I saw two Weasels copulating at the side of the road. They looked like a large moving furry pretzel.

Just as well they are small. They are so ferocious that any larger and they'd be making off with our children.

[AnnieLobeseder]

Um, are you on the right thread Calamity? Or have weasels been behaving badly towards supermarket checkout operators?

FWIW, when discussing abusive human men, rather than weasels, wombats or stoats, I do agree with you.