ferret

@shebebusynow> thank you for your suggestions :)

Ferrets and minks are very closely related (they can even interbreed I've heard), but the minks tend to be a bit heavier and don't have the markings, they're just dark brown. Minks tend to stay near waterways, but I've seen them a mile from any water. The ferret native to your area would be Mustela putorius, which I don't believe has a completely dark color phase.