Attack of the body snatchers!!!

[Coyote Chris]

You guys are the smartest people I know.
I have a grave yard for gophers I have killed every year. Planted poppies...markers....the works...
Something came by last night and took 7 gopher bodies.
It was almost surgically done. Just enough work to remove the bodies. I see absolutely no tracks in the loose dirt.
I think the critter is not a coyote. Maybe cat sized. But no tracks. gophers arre burried about 6 inches deep and then a mound of dirt placed on top.
Any ideas? I did see a small black squirrel sized animal....not much bigger than a huge chipmunk, running about the property this morning.

 

[junglejim]

Weasel?

 

[Coyote Chris]

Weasel?

It can not be ruled out.
Eastern Washington is home to three native weasel species: the long-tailed weasel, the short-tailed weasel (ermine), and the least weasel. They are strictly carnivorous mustelids known for their aggressive hunting, slender bodies, and metabolisms. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
These species can be found throughout the shrub-steppe, farmlands, and alpine forests of the region: [1, 2, 3]

• Long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata): The most common weasel in the region's lowlands and agricultural areas. They have a very long body, a tail that is half their body length with a distinct black tip, and typically feature a yellowish-white belly. In northern/higher elevations, they may turn white in the winter. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

 

[Fieroguy]

Aliens, obviously.

 

[ST1100Y]

Trail cam with night vision...

 

[Coyote Chris]

Trail cam with night vision...

Dont think I didnt think about that. But Rikki-Tikki-Tavi did not return to the cemetery for the last two nights. The main thing is what ever it is, it stays healthy and away from the dogs. And eats varmits. I saw what I think is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi two days ago and I think it did have a black end to its tail. It likes to run under my wife's shed 75 yards away. Fine with me.

 

[Coyote Chris]

A clue! We were walking our 3/4 mile path this evening and in the middle of the mowed path was an empty gopher trap. The excacated hole was about six feet away. This was within 60 yards of Barb's shed, where I have seen Rikki run under. There was a baby gopher also caught in a trap about 250 yards away which I had to bayonet.