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.

Weasels have very annoying laughs. Trufact.

I also don't think naked molerats exist. I thing someone grafted some teeth onto a penis and took pictures. Sick bastard. But yeah - I think they're the modern day Fiji Mermaid.

Beertricks, I agree, it's like the meerkats know they're being photographed. Only time until they start demanding royalties from those pics....

Monster, you might be right. Well Rhinos and too much opium.

It's a fab word - weasle. I could say it time and time again. I saw the back end of a weasle once. They are savage killing machines and will kill and drag rabbits which are much bigger than them back to their burrows.

'They' need to rename weasels with a name that accurately portrays the size and meanness.

But when I try to think of something suitable, all I can come up with is weesel.

We have weasels in our field . If we take the dogs out last thing before sundown , sometimes we see them playing round the old muckheap . Have also seen them 'do the dance ' which is hilarious . Dogs were fascinated and forgot to chase them ! Once they realised we were there , they were gone like a flash . Also saw a barn owl pick one off the road when it ran in front of me going home , which was quite impressive (not great for the weasel though )

GrumpyKat - I now have a mental image of a weasel in a dirty mac flashing through your cottage window.

This is because it seems my knowledge of small mammals is based entirely on cartoons, poor quality children's literature and my own stupidity.

Fascinating theory, Beertricks, could be, could be...

I read somewhere that a weasle can squeeze itself through a wedding ring. Either they are tiny or someone has fat fingers.

Weasels are, indeed, unfeasibly small. Badgers are huge. We have an aggressive one living up the road - he eyeballs you most alarmingly when you drive past (after he has begrudgingly got out of the way). I ran over a badger once. Two distinct thuds for front and back wheels. Looked in the mirror, and it just kept on running. Bloody tough, badgers are.
We also have creature known as Neurotic Fox living near us. If you meet it in the lane when driving it leaps about in all directions unable to make a decision about where to go before finally choosing an escape route.
We also have Comedy Owl who hoots exactly like a bad cartoon.
It's all go here.

That's when you are driving, not Neurotic Fox. And I teach English for a living. Usually before wine to celebrate Thirsty Thursday, though.

We have Rurban foxes here. Christened one night by a very drunk dh, who on driving home in a taxi pointed out a fox in someones front garden, and went "oh a Urban fox" to which I pointed out we lived in the country. He couldn't managed to say Rural. So settled on "Rurban" and giggling

fingers crossed

I'm on a stupid all so I apologise if I link like a dick

app. duh.

anyway, that looks the right size to me. is that even a weasel?

Who decides to measure a weasel?!

I have just realised that I have got to my advanced age believing that ferrets were basically weasels that had been tamed. So they are completely different animals then are they?

I'd up the estimate from hot dog to family sized mattesons sausage

God, that thread title actually made me look like this --->

Weasels are tiny but adorable. Worked at a wildlife rescue centre for 3 years- had a variet of pine martens, weasels, ferrets, badgers, hedgehogs, squirrels, some owls, some kestrels and falcons and more come through and I was always shocked.

What shocks me are elephants. We fed them at Colchester Zoo. Now, I know about elephants. I know they put food in their mouths, but when I fed them I kind of felt weird because I, for no real reason having seen elephants eating before etc;, believed they'd suck it up their trunk. I know they don't....but they should. Evolutionary failure to my mind.

One - weasels are like a hairy finger with legs. But they should be bigger.

Two - I have SEEN a badger. But I wouldn't want to touch one. I value my fingers. Badgers are ornery bastards and would bite you as soon as look at you...

Badgerswife - that's ferrets, that is, the ones on a lead that you are thinking of.

If it hasn't already been mentioned, please may I suggest you tubing Ozzy the Weasel and Ozzy the Weasel War Dance. The second one made me all kinds of happy!

Feeding a giraffe is weirder. They eat like cows. Yes, I know they are cloven-hoofed animals too, but their tongues are surprisingly cow-like!!