Mustelid (1 Viewer)

[Odonate]

Not sure these are the same individual but I would appreciate any thoughts on the ID. South Devon

Thanks

O

 

[aeshna5]

I get an American Mink feel for these.

 

[Farnboro John]

Polecat vibe for me.

John

 

[aeshna5]

Polecat vibe for me.

John

That would certainly be preferable!

 

[MarkHows]

They are polecats

 

[Odonate]

Thanks everyone, has been a very long time since I saw a live Mink and I have only ever seen dead Polecats

 

[Kevin Byrnes]

or an escaped ferret

 

[perlin]

mink for me.

 

[Farnboro John]

mink for me.

This is a black and white but not thermal image so the visible colour differences are real: the animal shows a mask and the paleness of winter underfur showing through dark guard hairs, which are absolutely Polecat (and OK, Polecat-ferret) features not seen in Mink, so what positive Mink feature are you hanging your opinion on?

I would add perhaps slightly more subjectively, that the bulk of the body compared to the head does not sit well with even a winter coated Mink but fits Polecat exactly.

John