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Weasels

© Josie Shadwell

Weasels live in most of North America, Europe and Asia. Some even live in South America and Northern Africa. There are generally three species of weasel in Canada and the United States of America; these are the Long-tailed weasel or Mustela frenata; the Least weasel or Mustela nivalis; and the Ermine or Mustela erminea. They are all active at night, carnivores, and solitary mammals.

The Long-tailed weasel's tail is almost a third of its total length, which can be up to 21 inches. He is the largest of North American weasels. This creature prowls at night, sleeps during the day, and being a good swimmer always lives close to water. He can also quietly climb a tree and surprise a bird. The Ermine is a chocolate brown with white feet and belly in the summer and is also known as the Short-tailed weasel. Its total length can be between 8-12 inches with its tail making up about one-quarter of the size. The ermine may be active during the day, he is also fearless, climbs trees, and swims. The third of this group the Least Weasel runs between 7 and 8 inches. It has been considered as one of the smallest meat-eaters in the world. It has also been known as the Pygmy weasel.

Weasels inhabit grasslands, woods, marshes, and farmlands. Their homes can be in hollow logs or stumps, other animals' underground burrows, or even in crawl spaces under buildings or barns. These dens usually have lots of entrances and sometime three rooms, including a bedroom, toilet, and food storage area. Being active at night, most people rarely see a weasel in the wild. These small furry creatures bound rather than walk and are very quick.

Weasels use their changing winter coats to their advantage. In the winter, they change from rich brown with lighter belly, to a salt and pepper coloration, and finally white. This winter coat provides great camouflage so that they are harder for their enemies to spot and can sneak up on their prey. In the areas where snow rarely falls, they do not need a white coat and usually stay their normal color.

These amazing mammals have a double layered fur coat. The thick inner fur close to the weasel's body is covered by guard hair, which keeps the water off. These tiny predators also smell. They give off a foul smelling odor created by musk glands. This odor is usually given off when they are excited, frightened, and they also use it to mark their territory. This musk marked territory warns intruders that they are trespassing. This scent also reveals if the weasel is male or female.