Peekaboo the Housemink returns ^,^

[Debbie]

Tonight I was on the phone with my friend, so I was sitting cross legged on the floor of our sunroom chatting. Next thing I know, I see 'a tail'. At first I was confused, as it went so fast, I thought maybe a squirrel?? But what would I have a squirrel in the house this time of year?

As I continued to chat with my friend, I leaned over to see what sort of animal I might be having as a visitor. Peekaboo pounced out from behind a stack of mushroom bins it's part of the reason we nicknamed her Peekaboo!

I'm delighted!!! She's been a wonderful addition to our wildlife/homelife since we first moved in June, 2013. The last time we saw her was last year in Sept. I've noticed the mink seem to disappear over the winter. It's very odd, but I think they hibernate, even if our Fish and Wildlife people say they don't.

I've never seen one so early in the year. Normally they reappear long around April-May and then they disappear Sept - Oct. She was dry, and considering we've had non stop rains and cold slushy snows/hail, etc for days on end, I'd say my theory of her hibernating in the house might be right.

While I continued to chat with my friend, Peekaboo continued to poke her nose around the sunroom, checking out all sorts of things, and pausing to pounce and bounce towards me. She's utterly adorable, and nosey did I say nosey? Think 'ferret' and that's pretty much the same attitude. I didn't even realize you could circle a piano against the wall, but she did. She scouted the bathroom and finally decided to 'sneak up' behind me.

I got off the phone with my friend so I could move. Peekaboo's incredibly friendly, but she's first and foremost a wild mink. I've no desire to have a mink on me.

No worries, she's been keeping herself busy dashing around the house seeing what's changed since she left last year. She's such a cutie patootie! Plus she'll chase out the Mouse I just saw as I got on the phone with my friend hurrah for effective rodent control!

[harveydales]

Goodness, Debbie, I've never heard of a wild mink being so "tame". Is is a different sort of species you have over there?

[Debbie]

None of us have! She's absolutely wild as no one I know keeps them for pets. We're in a perfect environment for them to occur naturally according to our Fish and Wildlife people, since we have fields full of Meadow voles (rodents) and a creek in the back and a river in the front.

I think they're simply bold and nosey and they go almost anywhere. I'm pretty sure they come in looking for errant mice and then enjoy exploring our home. Thankfully climbing isn't a forte, so I've moved small stealable items overnight.

They move like lightning and apparently Peekaboo has an aversion to cameras since Eldon was trying to get her on film last Sept. She gave him a long, hard stare ran into the sunroom and vanished for the year. Needless to say he's over the moon that she's returned! he worried he'd chased her off for good.

[Fi]

How lovely! Wish she wasn't quite so camera shy!

[Debbie]

Me too Fi, I'd love to capture some of her antics on video. She's got such a high curiosity drive and such joy. Everything's an adventure, everything must be checked out and looked over, and yet, she never seems to damage or move anything. Cripes, I wish my pets were as careful and considerate as she is!

[Fi]

I was about to say, until I got to the bit about not causing damage, that the description sounded like a Dales Pony!

[Debbie]

Fi when we first moved in here, the previous owner and his hired help had to install a taller gate on the pasture for Blossom and Dundee. Dundee being a horse, wandered off to graze. Blossom however was of course right there at the gate to supervise, aside from needing to stand near Mummy

The menfolk set their entire socket kit atop the post on the end they were working with. I warned them they needed to put the tools out of reach of Bloss.

"Nahhh, they're fine." Then Blossom snaked her head over the shoulder of the one guy and came a whisker away from snagging the whole box it was sheer luck the other guy snatched them away in time.

Bloss was ticked at me for warning them and both menfolk were shocked. "I'd never seen a horse do that!" Well, that's your problem, Blossom is not a horse, she's a Dales Pony."