Something to think about...

[Izeroth]

 In real life, otters, badgers, stoats, ferrets, and weasels are all actually related and in the same family. With this is mind, doesn't it seem strange that badgers and otters are such bitter enemies of stoats, ferrets, and weasels?

[Jetthebinturong]

Yes, so are otters

[LT Sandpaw]

Yup and so are Mice and Rats.

[Izeroth]

 I think squirrels are actually related to mice and rats as well...

[The Skarzs]

Yeh, I've thought about this as well; it's a bit redundant for many of the goodbeasts to call others 'vermin'.

[MeadowR]

But we're all human, yet we don't all get along! Not sure if that's a justified argument, but it's food for thought? :p

I have thought about it myself several times, actually. I suppose going by how people perceive the certain animals - badgers being wiser and therefore more 'good' beasts, yet weasels often seen as tricksters had to go in 'bad', etc., Brian felt it would resonate more with readers, regardless of species relations. I think The Wind in the Willows must have had some inspiration for him.

[Romsca]

Yeah I think a lot of it has to do with the cultural associations we have with each of the animal species

[Søren]

Yeah I think a lot of it has to do with the cultural associations we have with each of the animal species

^^^ yup. We natural aren't fond of rats and weasles, but we like otters and squirrels. The media and kids shows and stuff contributes to this. Rats are always depicted in a bad way, and otters and squirrels rarely are.

[Hickory]

Agreed, though ferrets are commonly used (that saounds dirty) as pets.

[LT Sandpaw]

Yeh, I've thought about this as well; it's a bit redundant for many of the goodbeasts to call others 'vermin'.

That's true, I've always wondered why vermin don't have their own name for Woodlanders, Or a name for themselves, they always seem to except that they are vermin and the others are woodlanders or goodbeasts.

[Albrithr]

Yeh, I've thought about this as well; it's a bit redundant for many of the goodbeasts to call others 'vermin'.

That's true, I've always wondered why vermin don't have their own name for Woodlanders, Or a name for themselves, they always seem to except that they are vermin and the others are woodlanders or goodbeasts.

They do, they call them bumpkins or some such term.
As for the otters/ferrets/etc... old family rivalries perhaps?