Mystery Wild Mammal Photographed in Edinburgh

[mipettin]

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Hi

Took photos of an odd animal at lunchtime in the River Almond near the Boatyard in Crammond. Sorry about the quality - very poor light and full zoom on camera as about 50 feet away. Links to photos here:

http://www.martinpettinger.co.uk/output/index.html

Is it an Otter, or a Mink, or something else!

Martin
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[jeff]

Mink for me.

[Gill Osborne]

Definitely a Mink i would say! Especially looking at Photos No. 4 & 6...the white chin of the mink is very clearly seen!

GILL

[mipettin]

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In photo 4 I think that is a fish while in 6 I think the Mink is eating something again. Maybe there is a clue in photo 5 the toes on the back left leg might be a clue?
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[cuckooroller]

Photo 7 - legs are too long for Otter.

[very boring banned member]

Mustela vison. All dark with white lower jaw.

[Joern Lehmhus]

Yep ,
it is a mink (Mustela vison)

[Charles Harper]

Well, certainly not an otter...

[very boring banned member]

Very bad for ground breeding birds.

[jeff]

Very bad for ground breeding birds.

Catch enough and you've got yourself a coat ;-)

[checklg]

Catch enough and you've got yourself a coat ;-)

This makes me think that I got the following ID wrong. Is this a Mink ?

http://www.pbase.com/image/20444585

Regards,
Graham.

[very boring banned member]

This makes me think that I got the following ID wrong. Is this a Mink ?

http://www.pbase.com/image/20444585

Regards,
Graham.
That is Mustela rixosa, very small beast.

[jeff]

This makes me think that I got the following ID wrong. Is this a Mink ?

http://www.pbase.com/image/20444585

Regards,
Graham.

I'd say it's was a Weasel Mustela nivalis

[very boring banned member]

I'd say it's was a Weasel Mustela nivalis
It is pygmy weasel (Mustela nivalis, earlier rixosa). Weasel (M. erminea, ex nivalis) has twice as long tail with black tip.

[Harry Hussey]

Hi Karwin,
Isn't it a Stoat that has a dark-tipped tail?Are they called Weasels in Finland?Is Pygmy Weasel the same as Weasel?
Mink for the first pics,btw!As well as concrete ID features such as the white on the chin,note how the whole back/tail are above the water while it's swimming.
Harry

[jayhunter]

I would say mink and a stoat.

[Joern Lehmhus]

Hi Checklg,
your pic is Mustela nivalis, allthough it seems to be quite a big one (male?).
As Karvin already said the tail of Mustela erminea is much longer (and also thicker) with a black tip. Also, Mustela erminea is in the size between Mustela nivalis and Mustela vison.

Jörn

[very boring banned member]

Hi Karwin,
Isn't it a Stoat that has a dark-tipped tail?Are they called Weasels in Finland?Is Pygmy Weasel the same as Weasel?
You're right. My english-name source was too old, as You possibly noticed from the sxcifi name hassle, too. FYI, in Finland that is called kärppä (now, try to pronounce that :) ), the pygmy thing being lumikko.

[very boring banned member]

pic is Mustela nivalis, allthough it seems to be quite a big one (male?).
I was too surprised how this guy looks big.

[Birdspotter]

Hi Martin,
I know you posted this a few weeks back but as I have just joined the forum and I know the area well where the photos were taken, I thought Id drop you a line on this subject.
Firstly the shots to me show a definate Mink, unfortunatly all too common on Lothian rivers. Previous Lothian bird reports have mentioned the lack of breeding waterbirds on our rivers and water courses with Mink being the chief suspect.
Moorhen was particuarly hit badly( 1983 Lothian bird report;Edin YOC Water of Leith Survey).
As for Otter, well for years this was a very rare mammal in Lothian but in recent years this trend has changed for the better.
Otter are now quite reguarly seen in Lothian, including the R Almond where you took the shots.
Hope this has helped you out.