• Valentine's Day-What'sUP February 14 - 11:51 pm

You don't often get to spy one of these little critters, since they are considered rare, tend to be more active at night and are actually on the shy side. Although this one, captured by Betty Maxson, doesn't seem to mind posing for the camera so much. This carnivorous fur-ball is a member of the weasel family and closely related to fishers and badgers too. It's commonly referred to as either an American Marten or a Pine Marten and can be distinguished from it's cousins by the two vertical black lines that run above the inner corners of their eyes. You can just make out that line in Betty's shot. Since their diet consists mostly of mice and small rodents, it makes me wonder what this little guy is doing on Betty's bird feeder over in Paradise, MI?
Maybe looking for a Valentine Sweety! Happy Valentine's Day!

What a neat picture! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

We have got a little varmit here that looks alot like that.Our chicken flock was no match for these guys,wiped them out!Nasty little things.

Saw my first stoat ever climb up the porch railing to the heated bird bath. Very nervous and edgy, probably stayed for a whole five seconds. Extremely agile little critter. Can't imagine being so lucky to get a great picture like this one.

Could it be looking for squirrels? I saw a weasel chasing a squirrel once while I was bird hunting. They were circling their way up a large white pine and out onto a branch where the squirrel got away making a long leap to another tree. A squirrel should be no problem for this fellow.

Is a ferret any kind of relation to this little guy? Happy Valentines Day to all!

What a cute little animal. I don't think I've ever seen one like that. At first glance I thought it was a fox because from a distance, the snow behind it looked like a bushy tail. Anyway, good morning to everybody in Yooperland and have a Happy Valentine's Day.

Mr. Bill,

I wasn't sure what a stoat looked like, so I googled it and found
this image...

Barbara Nelson (Barb)

In its white winter coat and black tipped tail, its also known as an ermine.

These little devils have wiped out the game birds in the Keweenaw. The DNR brought them back years ago and the bird population has gone down to nothing ever since. RATS!

Lots of pluses and minuses with these little fellas. We only have prarie dogs. Happy hugs to all ==:-D