Chatter Goes the Weasel

Posted by
Jill Stefko
Jul 11, 2008

I was watching an animal program about weasels and decided to write Weasel: Pagan Symbolism. I watched a martin or a fisher, other members of the mustelidae family, who was trying to get into a weasel’s den and finally succeeded in capturing the poor little chattering animal. My fascination turned into horror because I thought the weasel would have avoided this, and then, into amazement when the diminutive one got free and ran off! I thought of a dog the size of a German shepherd attacking a chihuahua.

Next was a weasel attacking and bringing a rabbit down! I felt very badly for the bunny. It was the same with the snake.

What astounded me the most was the weasel’s weight and its ability to prey on much larger animals. Depending on the type, its weight ranges from 2.1 to 14 ounces! Not even a pound! I consulted my reference books and web sites and found this to be accurate. Weasels have been known to kill as many chickens as they can in a coop, then hoard them for future meals.

Years ago, when I was in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, I saw, in the beam of the car’s headlights, what I thought was a weasel, but after doing research, including geographical range, I concluded that the animal was a martin, fisher or mink. They all resemble each other.

I am an animal lover and have written other articles about the furred one’s symbolism. I hope you enjoy all of them.