I used to see his titles on the shelves all the time, and whenever I saw an illustration of what looked to me like a ferret–I would get excited. Of course, the animal was either a weasel or stoat, and unfortunately evil, but nonetheless I was happy the ferret relatives were getting press.
It is always hard to lose a writer. Here is his obituary:
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1386#m11428