The New Orleans Bowl Weasel

It would be a curious creature in any climate, but, when you think about it, the bowl weasel's presence in New Orleans is unsurprising.  That said, this shy and retiring beast isn't well known in New Orleans' popular reputation, and, indeed, if we were to take a poll, I guess most New Orleanians are unaware of the existence of one of the city's most native species, specially adapted to the city terrain.

Some people look at the clouds and see bowl weasels in them.

The bowl weasel isn't black with a white stripe down its back.  The bowl weasel doesn't have a bushy tail.  In fact, it has a very long and thin, stubbly tail.  If you ever get close to a bowl weasel when it's sleeping, take a big whiff and you'll learn that bowl weasels smell faintly of skunk.

The natural color of a bowl weasel not in captivity is a searing bright yellow.  The species used to be more drab but the advent of neon signs set Darwinian rules of evolution into play.  Bowl weasels kept as pets are usually dyed by their owners to match the colors of the season.

Purple, green and gold are Mardi Gras colors.  Red and green are Christmas.  Black and Orange are Hallowe'en.  Pastel colors come out in Easter and emerald green is for St. Patrick's Day.  The Fourth of July is red, white, and blue, or, as the French prefer to say, blue, white, and red.  Black and gold are the colors of football season.

Long ago, during colonial times in New Orleans, a ship full of weasels and a ship full of bowls were tied up next to each other at the Hospital Street Wharf.

Somehow, the weasels got loose and they jumped ship to the ship with all the bowls.  Nobody knew that at first, though.

Once the weasels were discovered missing, the crew of the weasel ship was frantic.  A hold full of weasels bound for Barbados was valuable property.  Those weasels were a big investment and a lot of careers were riding on this voyage.

After a thorough search led hither and yon, the weasels were located in the ship with the bowls, each weasel contentedly curled up, each in its own bowl, and sleeping, dreaming satisfied weasel-y dreams.  They looked so cute, no one had the heart to disturb them. The two ship captains' conferred and decided to care of the issue tomorrow.  Everyone went home to bed.

The weasels woke up in the middle of the night and again had ideas of their own.  They got loose in the city.  That is how the New Orleans Bowl Weasel ( Mustela orleaniensis) population started.  Though they now look very different from their ancestors, the modern breed still sleeps in bowls, dreaming satisfied weasel-y dreams.

You'll see what you want to in New Orleans.  It is a city full of surprises.

A Word From Our Sponsor:

If you would like to see a genuine example of a bowl weasel, you should visit The New Orleans Odditarium, where a perfectly preserved specimen is on display.  The Odditarium is a small museum of New Orleans culture and curiosities that is open by appointment for those enquiring individuals who want to learn more about the less-known parts of New Orleans.

The New Orleans Odditarium is only open to the general public by appointment but visitors to New Orleans who stay at La Belle Esplanade have unfettered access to this curated collection of artifacts.  Make your trip to New Orleans extra memorable.  Stay at La Belle Esplanade, a small artisanal hotel in the heart of Esplanade Ridge, and learn what it means to fall in love with New Orleans off the usual tourist map.