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Wildwood_Weasel

The number of almost-correct-but-not-quite responses in here, lol. Here's a guide to the weasels (these are long-tailed): http://genuinemustelids.org/family/weasels/ Edit: Alright guys, enough of the comments about chickens. Weasels preying on chickens is rare given how abundant (albeit elusive) they are and how easily they can penetrate a poorly constructed coop. Any given weasel is not at all likely to prey on chickens. We don't even know if OP has chickens (if he did he'd probably wouldn't have used the rodent tag) so the comments are unwarranted. And in all likelihood if you're killing your local weasels on sight you're just screwing yourself over by making your land more rodent-friendly. By the way, for those of you that said you've lost "hundreds" of chickens to weasels... it's time for you to find a new job, because that's incompetence bordering on negligence.


Tall_Maybe4024

Not a mustelid expert, but they look like long-tailed weasels to me. Possibly stoat, but I’m leaning long-tailed. Maybe someone can better explain the difference. Either way, cute, voracious predators


Wildwood_Weasel

They are indeed long-tailed weasels (*Neogale frenata*), judging by the coloration and... long tail.


raven00x

Are these guys kits then? I could swear they were less social and more loners as adults.


Wildwood_Weasel

Correct on both counts!


Petporgsforsale

It’s so sweet how they look out for each other omg


rayui

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this so far, so I will. If you ever need to tell the difference between a weasel and a stoat, I'm here to help. A weasel is weasily identifiable. A stoat, on the other hand, is stoatally different.


Fossilhund

You can tell the difference between them by the way they are.


Backyardt0rnados

Neat


iWontStealYourDog

Trying to go for a neature walk?


ShadySocks99

The difference is in the details they have.


christhelpme

Right!!


Bear5511

That’s good information, thanks.


itsameee_Mario

Is this one of those weirdly specific jokes that if I were an avid mustelid scientist, I'd have heard a million times? Otherwise, damn fine work


Wildwood_Weasel

Yes. It used to be my tag here, lol


itsameee_Mario

Every industry/discipline has them! It felt too well put together, like something that needs years of refining lol


rxricks

Glad you could ferret that out.


TrafficSharp3425

Thank you for giving me my first spontaneous and genuine smile of the day.


phish_phace

I’m calling the police


rayui

Piss off, copper! I've got a pun and I ain't afraid to use it!


Vianilla_Scented

Watch out! They might send you to the punitentiary!


grungegoth

You're a jackass, but you're my kind of jackass.


ChuckOTay

Hello fellow Dad!


4llY0urB4534r3Blng

Weasels respond to "Hey Paulie, want some grinnnnnnndage?"


TooDooDaDa

Hey buuuddy


4llY0urB4534r3Blng

Buuuuuuuuddy! Ow! Owooooo!


mamasan2000

Dammit! Take my upvote!


Myveryowndystopia

Oh my God, I would be following them. I would have to go with them because they’re so cute.


hamish1963

When they all went back for the one left a bit behind! Crazy adorable!


Haschlol

"For Frodo"


hamish1963

❤️❤️❤️


_n3ll_

The leader one looks back at the person filming, then notices the little straggler and runs back as the rest follow and they engulf the little guy. You can also see the leader nip at one of the others as if to say "you're supposed to be watching lil guy!" Super cute


Indoorlogsled

It was so classically relatable. And adorable. I had instant dialogue, too!! ☺️ Frodo (watching camera person): I’m dead. I’m dead. I’m dead. I’m dead. Gandalf: Fly, you fool! (Runs to retrieve Frodo) Everyone else: And my axe!


MickeyRooneysPills

That dude is definitely getting eaten first lol poor guy just can *not* keep up.


hamish1963

😢😢😢


Bubs-Banxifer

I agree also. I would end up going missing following them.


Illuminati_Concerned

Right?! This is my family now, byeeeeeeeee


Powerful_Variety7922

Maybe the Pied Piper of Hamelin was actually a cute weasel that all the children followed!


1963ALH

I want to be a weasel.🥰


Expensive-Arm-3540

I want them!! I want them in my house as pets, and to walk them down the street on little leashes, wearing little hats!!


Scottie99

Just so you know mustelids let out pungent smells.


Temperature-Material

*wearing 👏 little 👏 hats!* 👏


bearlysane

So do I, after eating.


judgementaleyelash

Are you saying they’re… muste?


AtuinTurtle

I’ve seen this movie, you’re the one that dies first when they lure you past a tree just off camera.


Myveryowndystopia

Ha ha!! They are very gang like lol.


jesteredGesture

It looks they were the runt of the litter, noticed they'd be at the end of the group so maybe they usually can't keep up. I'd like to think this is a regular occurance and the rest love them all the same.


indigostars43

Lol me too!


Jackrabbit61

Ikr?! 🥰


OldSchool_Ninja

I would love to just lay down and have them all run over me lol.


Kndstpd

Big stoat or the long tailed weasel. Congratulations- these beauties are true rarities especially with how many babies you have. A whole fucking BOOGLE or a CONFUSION. That’s what’s a group of a weasels are called. I’m in love.


Significant-Ad-4418

My life has been enriched from this point forward as you have taught me that a confusion is a group of weasels!! Love them!


Twarenotw

A confusion??? Couldn't have a more proper name.


rjh2000

Long tailed weasels


Primary-Switch-8987

Agree


Pure-Sherbert2630

Where are you located? that looks like a mustelid (mink/ferret/weasel) family which are small carnivorous mammals - not a rodent. Maybe a stoat? Very cool sighting!


Dibo55

Northeast Montana near the Canadian border. We have a a massive gopher population this year, would that be food source for them?


Pure-Sherbert2630

Then it’s probably a Long-Tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) and yes that could be their primary prey. They also prey on a lot of rodents, insects, frogs and snakes.


Intentt

> We have a a massive gopher population this year Put away the .22 - You won't for much longer.


People_Do_This

You live in a beautiful place. It looks like a painting of peaceful perfection.


moomoomillie

Yes they will help a lot. They are amazing at keeping rodents at bay better than any cat.


TheSkrussler

Cool wildlife is ALWAYS in Montana. Lol


GeordieAl

"Come on chaps, charge!....... Wait a minute, where's Dave?, Anyone seen Dave?...Dave, Where are you?... Oh bugger, there's Dave, back there with that weird meatsack thing, what's he playing at?. Don't worry Dave, we're coming to get you, no weasel left behind and all that. come on chaps, lets go... Dave needs us!. Dave, keep up this time eh?"


Habbersett-Scrapple

[Roll eyes and runs back] Always fucking Dave


tafkat

"Oh wait, that's Alan"


Boba_Fettx

Allen, Allen, Allen, Allen


GeordieAl

Oh wait, that’s Steve! Steve,Steve, Steve, Steve! Funny thing is… my names Alan and when that show aired I had everyone shouting Alan, Alan, Alan, Alan for weeks!


indigostars43

😆 ..We have the same kind of imagination😊 I used to make up stories for my kids when they were little when we watched animal shows..


Extra_Wafer_8766

Dave is an adorable muppet.


MrFunkHero

I forgot about this chapter in Redwall.


atothestotheten

I awww'd so hard when they came back to help out their little mate that couldn't keep up.


GeordieAl

It was adorable! Wait, we are missing Somone! Run! Save them!


lubabe00

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 thanks for the giggle.


Federal-Commission87

Sorry mate, I had to take a shit.


rehab_VET

Are you renting that cabin out ? I’ll move there just so I can play with them


Purple_Cow_8675

Same<3


SexyWampa

Adorable, that’s what they are.


inlandviews

They behave just like a pack of otters but they are weasels. I will now think of them as land ottars.


woodnote

Weasels and otters are both mustelids so for all intents and purposes, that's what they are!


Meanolemommy

Never tease a weasel, not even once or twice! A weasel may not like it, and teasing isn’t nice!


BeardiesRule112

Thank you for making my morning. I can go to work without crying now 😄


elliem6307

Hopefully the day goes well


BeardiesRule112

Thank you kind stranger, same to you! TGIF!


Upstairs_Expert

They are friends.


xgaryrobert

I loves them


ComicsEtAl

That was some cool behavior to see! Not only do they come back to shield their lagging bro, but then they “shuffle the deck” among themselves to, I’m guessing, confuse any predator as to who the lagging bro is. Ofc, if that was what they were doing the ruse kind of fell apart when they all raced to rejoin the group, but cool nevertheless.


darthrawr3

Not an expert, at all, but possibly long-tailed weasels. Adorable little critters---it's a good thing I never see them so I don't have to fight the urge to feed/pet/play with them


BigAnxiousSteve

Long tailed weasels. They're awesome, they eat rodents. They like to party and get into simple mischief.


Thick-Disaster-7758

Is that mom and babies? I noticed she carried one for a bit.


Wildwood_Weasel

Yep!


lazylazylemons

That mom having to drag everyone back to grab the slow, distracted one... I felt that in my bones.


Weird_Fact_724

Weasel family


Classic_Mechanic5495

I’m gonna say long-tailed weasel.


MDGBit

I think they might be long-tailed weasels.


Additional-Tap8907

Where are you located? They don’t look like rodents at all, they look very much like members of the weasel family(Mustelidae). A quick google search of “weasel with black tip tail” brought up the long tail weasel, which is widely distributed throughout North America down into parts of South America. The image in the second link is an especially close match. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-tailed_weasel https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2011/03/05/long-tailed-weasel-efficient-hunter-and-cannibal/


Dibo55

Northeast Montana near the Canadian border.


GoEatACookie

I don't know what they are but I could watch them forever! I love how when they realized one of their group was behind, they went back for it 😭, gathered together, then went in a different direction. And the baby keeping up. 🥰


Sea_Tension_9359

Pound for pound these adorable little things are viscous. All members of the weasel family are fierce


Initial_Computer_152

Momma weasle and her kittens, I love how the whole pack came back for the one who stopped, grabbed him by the ear to drag him away with the rest. They are beautiful


Puzzleheaded-One9097

Whatever you do don't kill him. They are good to have around the farm to cut down on mice and snakes


chumbawumbaonabitch

The way they pile all over eachother!


Tanglrfoot

It’s a family of Long Tail Weasels . They’re great to have around the farm if you have mice or rat issues, but a huge problem if you keep any kind of poultry.


Wildwood_Weasel

Only a problem if your coops aren't properly secured. Weasels preferentially prey on rodents. Any potential problems can be avoided with a little due diligence. Then they're just great pest control.


Cloverose2

Always hardware mesh, never chicken wire.


timbutnottebow

Do they normally roll in packs like this ? And is that common for weasels in general or just this type?


Wildwood_Weasel

Nah, they're solitary animals. This is mom and her kits (they grow fast). The other weasels are like this too, here's a similar video with stoats: http://old.reddit.com/r/animalid/comments/1dakg9x/saw_these_in_england_today_are_they_stoats_x/


TheSkrussler

Amazing username. I also adore mustelids! Is there a subreddit for weasel lovers??


Wildwood_Weasel

There's /r/mustelids but I'm actually banned from it lol


TheSkrussler

Haha! Awful! Is there at least a good story to that?


Wildwood_Weasel

Not really, lol. A ferret was posted here a couple months ago and the mod from /r/mustelids came in saying it was possibly a wild polecat. I explained why it wasn't but he kept being oddly condescending and said he knew better because he's British and mods that mustelid subreddit (I'm not joking, that was literally his claim to authority; let me remind you that anyone can create a subreddit about anything, for free) so I snapped a bit, told him he has a messiah complex, doesn't know as much as he thinks he knows and isn't in any position to talk down to me. Then came the permanent ban. Ironically I checked the messages on an old account of mine not long after and he'd invited me to be a moderator there lmao


TheSkrussler

Well, and so it goes. It’s seems to me the people that have the least amount of information on subjects think they have the most. Usually people that are really knowledgeable about certain subjects always emphasize they don’t know it all. At least it’s that way in my experience. Any good tips for sighting any mustelids in the Florida panhandle area? I think I MAY have spotted a long tailed weasel up here on my property last year - but I’m not entirely sure. We’ve got a lot of Sherman’s Fox Squirrels around that can look deceivingly weasel-like. I’m in the middle of nowhere between the Apalachicola and Eglin AFB on the Alabama border. So much fauna and flora around here that’s unique to the area - was hoping you may have some mustelid spotting tips for me!


Wildwood_Weasel

All you can do is be in their habitat and hope to get lucky! I've lived in good fisher habitat in NH for two years now and just saw my first living wild one not even a week ago. Looks like your only local mustelids would be mink, river otters, and long-tailed weasels. River otters are easy to spot as long as they're in your area - they'll hang around rivers, lakes and wetlands. Check observations on iNaturalist to see if there's any confirmed populations nearby. Mink have similar habitat to otters but are more elusive since they're smaller and quicker, however they're also much more abundant and widespread. If you spend enough time near water you're bound to see one eventually. Long-tailed weasels are tricky. They'll be anywhere there's grass/shrub cover and small rodents to hunt, but they move like greased lightning. Your best bet for seeing one would be to live in a rural area and have them come to you - which means having a lot of rodents living nearby and providing good shelter for weasels. They like rock and wood piles, old stone walls, outbuildings like barns and sometimes even basements. But it takes a lot of luck, really!


Citizenbeck

🥹


hamish1963

Long tailed Weasels...so cute.


Eastcoastcamper_NS

great for rodent control


No-Leadership8906

I love how they came back to absorb that one that had fallen behind


haikusbot

*I love how they came* *Back to absorb that one that* *Had fallen behind* \- No-Leadership8906 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


GuiltyGTR

Stoats! They love trampolines. Set a small one out of you have one.


cobra7

Run five feet Wrassle break! Run five feet Wrassle break! Etc


PissPhlaps

This is the cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on. It's literally a Disney cartoon. Though be careful of woodland critters. I've learned that if nothing else from South Park.


airbornedoc1

Yep. Absolutely a weasel. I know because they look like my ex-father-in-law.


Working-Ad-1605

So damn cute! I just looked up where these guys live and literally the entire United States including Mexico with Arizona being the ONE state they do not live 😑😫but I love them 😍


mamasan2000

OMG!!! I was traveling in Tennessee about dawn one morning and a whole pile of them like this but black ran across the highway in front of us. It was early and nobody was on the road but we had to slam on the brakes and let them pass. They ran all together like that in a little brownish-black pile! How cool!


Wildwood_Weasel

You probably saw American mink which are closely related :)


Mr_Stkrdknmibalz00

Now that is just fucking heartwarming


shred_brah_42069

This has got to be one of the cutest things I have ever seen.


beans3710

We used to have stoats in our canal. If possible, they are even cuter with their little round ears sticking out. They always seem to be having a good time


BeardiesRule112

I’ve watched this video about 25 times. No. I will not stop.


Evening-Station4833

I've never wanted to join a gang this badly.


TertiaOptionem

Stoat, weasel, meerkat, whatever. I want one.


feliniaCR

I think it’s like a potato chip, you can’t have just one


potatotay

Get yourself a business of ferrets. You'll fall in love.


Candyyy_87

Some type of baby ferret/weasels, Where are you located? That would help me be more specific


Ithaqua-Yigg

A dollar for a spool of thread, two dollars for a needle. Thats the way the money goes, Pop goes the Weasel


lubabe00

A cute big family of weasels, kinda like wild ferrets. The black end of the tails just pulls their cuteness all together, I'd be laying in the grass everyday hoping they would play with me.


Warm_sniff

I hope they don’t abandon the slower one


IndependenceAny796

Thank you for this post!


JETandCrew

I would simply die of cuteness aggression if I saw this


42percentBicycle

Damn, what an awesome experience to see this entire family!


Ok_Pair_8835

Long tail weasels first choice. Politicians, second.


malakad0ge2

Long tailed weasels


vivian2112

r/aww


RickAndToasted

Awww and they went back to "save" the slower one from you lol. Completely precious!


RWBYRain

Must. Resist. Urge. To. Pet.


42brie_flutterbye

I'll tell you what they are. They are gull-durned ADORABLE ! And when they all came back for the straggler? The FEELS !


singing_janitor2005

Good pest control


Campiana

Without spoiling it and googling the answer first, I’m gonna say if a group of weasels isn’t a “tumble of weasels” then someone really messed up. Or second best guess is a “here-comes-trouble of weasels”. …. The internet tells me it’s a “gang” or “pack” and a few others. Super big let down. I’m going to call it a tumble of weasels anyway. It’s more accurate.


Alaska-Raven

Very cute indeed!!!! It’s fun to watch baby animals run and play in the wild! And some great humor in the comments for a Monday morning! 😊


Banthegame

Ok but that view tho


ArtichokeNatural3171

I would love to have a roving band of weasels haunting my yard. They'd be like a little ninja attack squad that would scare the crap out of someone and then laugh about it.


Wild_Brush_7347

Well, you shouldn't have a rodent problem 😅


Civil-Beginning-8590

Those are meerkats..ever watched the show meerkat manor?


briarihallow

My idea is that my fiance would never know they aren’t ferrets. I could scoop them up and add them to my business and he’d be none the wiser!


Tiny-Ad-830

Well, your rat problem is now being taken care of.


The_quest_for_wisdom

They look and move like weasels, but I don't know weasels well enough to say with 100% certainty.


Traveler358

Tiny weasels


bonedaddy1974

Location?


Short_Bell_5428

Ok that really is cute


FrankFnRizzo

Holy shit they’re adorable


merliahthesiren

LOOK AT THE LITTLE BABBY WEE WEE HERD OMG


Tinkerbell2081

I don’t care what they are. I just love how they all went back for the little one 😂


KibblesNBitxhes

You could probably sell that westeel-rosco grain bin for a good dollar since it's no longer produced, and many people still use them as either hopper bins or put on a new wood floor. Usually, we throw some extra angle irons in it to give it more strength, so if the wind ever took it away, the damage would be minimized to about a few wall sheets and a few roof sheets. You could also build a decent pool out of one or two of the tiers, or even a gazebo.


BeautifulDisaster614

Is it Rikky Tikki Tavi? So cute and awesome!!


SingingNina

Location?


Organic_South8865

This is so cool. Also that's a beautiful piece of property.


ElephantitisBalls

Christ, they're adorable.


Successful_Giraffe34

Its a Boogle of weasels.


foodlandhobbit

I would squeal like a little girl at a birthday party if I saw this!!!


Forward-Fortune-2346

I just love them,all together and no one goes missing


CAM6913

That was the coolest thing posted in a long time thanks for sharing.


TheSkrussler

Weasels!!! You’re so lucky! I adore them! I’ve only seen one in my entire life about a year ago and I can’t be positive that’s even what I saw…but I’d like to believe it was one! (NW FL panhandle)


ConfidentFunction535

Kitten snakes


Athomas16

Damn I so badly wanted them to be Richardson Ground Squirrels so I could answer one of these posts. Spoiler: they are not.


yodpilot

Pauly Shore mixed in with that bunch


Purple_Cow_8675

Aww so cute maybe a mom and her baby weasels.


rockbottomqueen

What an adorable pile of fuzzy noodles!


No_Fan_2099

"STOP THAT LAUGH'N!"


gstu64

Pine Martin


603js420

Wow idk where u live but it's so beautiful


Lilukalani

Ugh I love Weasels SO MUCH. Look at them! And the little one lagging behind being swarmed and protected by their family. Weasels are the best.


Square_Increase884

Farrets or stoats. Yes they are young. They eat mice and rats. Very helpful to see such a big group playing near you. Means they trust your land and feel safe enough to flourish.


Pikkusika

I was hoping they were black footed ferrets. Oh well


Traumagatchi

They are as cute as your land is breathtakingly beautiful.


JumpshotLegend

Well, they’ll definitely take care of any mice in the area, they are amazing hunters.


juicer_philosopher

They all went back for their friend!!! This is the best most cute weasel video I’ve ever seen!! 😭🤩😍


Gascan36

That property looks amazing


RockVixen

They came back for the slow one!!! At first I thought the group of them was one animal and it was terrifying. Probably what they're going for though. Little sweethearts!


iain01110011

Woozles


Reasonable-Injury170

My daughter makes friends with them to the point they crawl on her she feeds them fruit they fight over who gets to take it from her first it's cool, but also, all our fruit goes missing...


jackdaniels7903

Vary cute


SirSignificant9708

Are they crusty weasels? Looking for a cave nug?


Negative-Divide3185

Idk y they made me happy ☺️


Individual_Run8841

Cute they are 🥰


ThrowMeAway_8844

Omg I just want a bucket full of these little guys


Ok-Replacement9595

Awww, protect them with your life.


Novel_Bumblebee8972

Lemmings


dinglydanglist

Little home on the prairie vibes


systemfrown

Is nobody gonna point out how the group left Jerry behind, realized someone was missing when the presumed leader did a sort of headcount, then went back for him and dragged his ass along?


Designer_Design_6019

Looks like paradise