Critter I saw at the Oregon Coast

[+DieChecker]

We were on vacation at the Oregon coast and were staying at Newport. We got up early and went down to the rocks to look at the tide pools with the kids and we saw this little guy. Looked like a ferret to me, but has anyone ever heard of a wild ferret living off seafood on the Oregon Coast?

If I had to guess, I would say the whole critter was like 18 inches long.

From the look of his nose, it appears he's been living on the beach for some time.

Opinons??

[Sakari]

Mink.

Link : http://greycoast.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/astoria-or-animal-liberation-communique-for-300-mink-freed/

Edited August 24, 2013 by Sakari

[DecoNoir]

Far as I can tell: American mink

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_mink

[Insanity]

My guess would be either the American Marten or American Mink.

Both are about the size you describe, the marten will eat fish in coastal areas, but the mink is semiaquatic and eats mostly fish and other aquatic foodstuffs. Of the two, I'd guess the mink.

[Imaginarynumber1]

It's clearly a dolphin.

[Skep B]

Dinner

[+DieChecker]

Dinner

No way. He was small bony and looked yucky.

[+DieChecker]

It does look like a mink.

Thanks for the ID guys.

[Imaginarynumber1]

It does look like a mink.

Thanks for the ID guys.

No problem!

It can be hard to identify dolphins sometimes!

Perfect match to your pic!

Edited August 26, 2013 by Imaginarynumber1