Can Anyone Help Me Identify This Animal

1. 89

   quotationsposted 15 years ago

   I am hoping that my fellow hubbers can help me identify a wild animal that has taken up residence under my deck.
   
   I live in northern Canada, and my backyard is on the edge of a forest so I get many wild visitors.
   
   Lately I have noticed a small creature that pops out from under my deck once in a while. It is about a foot and a half long, thought it seems able to extend itself further to reach things. It has sharp claws and from its teeth it is clearly a predator.
   
   Its fur is black except on it face which is white. The face is rather flat and its nose does not protrude  much. It appears curious and not really afraid of me.
   
   I put out dog food in the back yard because I feed a flock of wild ravens and this animal appears to eat some of the dry dog food, but I have also seen it eat bird seeds
   
   At first I thought it was a ferret, but though it looks somewhat like one it is not exactly like the pictures I have seen of ferrets on wikipedia.
   
   I wish I had a picture to post but the creature mainly just pops its head out from under the deck at random intervals and I havent been able to get it. Today was the first time it actually came all the way out from under the deck with me there but of course I did not have the camera.

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2. 0

   ryankettposted 15 years ago

   A Racoon?

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3. 0

   ryankettposted 15 years ago

   A Skunk?
   
   We may as well begin a process of elimination, so check each one out as we go and say yes or no.

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4. 0

   ryankettposted 15 years ago

   A Badger?

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5. 0

   ryankettposted 15 years ago

   If it is a Skunk then I suggest that you get it removed!

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6. 59

   tantrumposted 15 years ago

   An alien ?

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7. 0

   lynnechandlerposted 15 years ago

   Do you have Opossums? The snout would be longer than what you are suggesting and they are nocturnal not sure it would come out during the day.

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8. 89

   quotationsposted 15 years ago

   Hi everyone - thanks for all of the replies. It's definitely not a skunk or a raccoon. I looked up opossum on wikipedia, and I think it might be one, but I haven't noticed a long tail as in the pictures. I will try to see if it has a tail like the opossums.

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9. 89

   quotationsposted 15 years ago

   Also not a badger or an alien. An alien would be nice, though.

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   1. 59

      tantrumposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      It looks like this ?

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10. 82

    Sufidreamerposted 15 years ago

    An American Marten?
    
    http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fal … Marten.htm

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11. 65

    awareposted 15 years ago

    ok i looked at Canadian wildlife site i think what you have is a black footed ferret google it and see

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12. 0

    ralwusposted 15 years ago

    We have a hubber called Pest, he has been MIA, now I know where he is.

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13. 77

    Katelyn Weelposted 15 years ago

    maybe some kind of weasel? they look like ferrets

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14. 60

    sooner than laterposted 15 years ago

    check out the many images of the "stoat". they come in many color variations and change coat colors seasonaly.
    
    It sounds close to your description to me.

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15. 89

    quotationsposted 15 years ago

    Thanks everyone for your help. The mystery is solved - it's a marten. I followed Sufidreamer's link and the picture is exactly like my new furry friend. I will have to read up on his habits to see if I have to evict him from under my deck. I would not want him to start tunneling under my house.

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    1. 82

       Sufidreamerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Glad to help - we have a similar animal around here called a polecat - it sounded similar, from your description. The American Marten is the US equivalent.
       
       Good old Wikipedia.
       
       Would love to see a photohub, if he becomes a little braver

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16. 59

    caravalhophotoposted 15 years ago

    I had never heard of an American Marten...the things you learn in this forum.
    
    They are cute, being from Northern California, I love my wildlife and birds...the bird issue would be my only concern since they like eggs...however if I had a mice/rat issue, I may have to weigh the pros/cons of having this beautiful creature under my home. 
    
    Did you name him yet? The one in the picture looked like an "Oliver".

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    1. 72

       earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Great post I did not know this little guy either, but will look him up on wikapedia. I love the way we learn from forums, thanks to the ever vigilant eyes of sufidreamer! Animals Rock!

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17. 93

    habeeposted 15 years ago

    Opossums have naked tails - or at least they do down here.

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18. 73

    AEvansposted 15 years ago

    Possum or Raccon

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19. 60

    sooner than laterposted 15 years ago

    a marten, that is an incredibly cute little booger. I wonder is it living under your deck, or hunting there frequently?

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20. 61

    QuirkyPearlposted 15 years ago

    Laughing out loud here as i read this post through, Tantrum was nearly right about being an Alien....Marten/Martian
    
    Maybe it's just my sense of humour

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21. 61

    heart4thewordposted 15 years ago

    a face full of such happiness, ready to fly!

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22. 62

    my last breathposted 15 years ago

    its possibly a weasle. ferrets and weasles are mixed up sometimes.

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