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.

[HoneyDragon]

Nagoo

You can tell it was a stoat because of its tail.

We were all just too polite to mention it

Besides, its hardly your fault. It's all these weirdy woodland creatures that wander about brazenly flaunting their wrong sizedness.

[Nagoo]

but they said it was a weasel it looked legit. I may sue

[HoneyDragon]

It was the weasels wot wrote the article. It's all part of their evil plan to confound us with their tiny statures.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

Does anybody remember that Aussie daytime soap years ago where they had a pet wombat. He was lovely, I'd love to have a wombat.
I see pine martens up here, (Highlands), in my last house I used to feed them bread and jam, they have very sweet teeth.
I moved a 10 minute walk away but don't encourage them as they might attack my cats or vice versa.

[HoneyDragon]

Country Practise?

[LadyBeagleEyes]

Yes Honey, that was it.
And wombats are considerably bigger than weasels.
Fact.

[HoneyDragon]

Yes. That woman's are bigger than weasels is one of very few certainties in life.

I loved Country Practise, the wombat was called Fatso

[HoneyDragon]

Woman's? Wombats.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Wombats are weasels in reverse; they are much, much bigger than you expect them to be (like about 5 stone in weight).

They lure you in by pretending to be small and cuddly, but they are big, grumpy and they bite. Hard.

[QueenofDreams]

I never knew weasels were that small. I thought they were similar in size to ferrets. I asked DP if he knew how big weasels are and he said small cat size. Can't believe it.

On another note apparently in many places it's illegal to own a pet weasel as they're classed as being dangerous, even to humans. I wonder if Ozzy's owner is aware of this?

[HoneyDragon]

Perhaps they class Ozzy as a lodger?

Or law enforcement owners don't believe he's too small to be a weasel, because everyone knows weasels are the size of cats.

[CalamityKate]

The stoat can be easily told from the weasel, by the simple fact that his tail is blacked, and his figure is slightly the bigger

I read that in one of the "Children of Cherry Tree Farm" books by Enid Blyton when I was little! Tammylan the wild man was teaching the children about wildlife

[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.

[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.

[mignonette]

adybeagle*

The wombat was called Fatso.

[mignonette]

Sorry ladybeagle

[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.

[JuliaScurr]

now an otter would be otterly different

[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.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Ferrets stink like pee. It's gross.

Are there racoons in England?

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Calamity I loved those books!

[HoneyDragon]

large furry pretzel

[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.