weasel facts
Weasel Facts
Weasels are small carnivorous mammals found in most places around the world such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Northern regions of Africa, except Australia and its surrounding islands. They are extremely smart and quick creatures although their small size and stature may be deceiving.
Name | Range | IUCN Status |
Tropical weasel (Mustela africana) | South America | LC |
Mountain weasel (Mustela altaica) | Europe, Asia | NT |
Stoat (Ermine or Short-tailed weasel) (Mustela erminea) | Europe, Asia, North America, New Zealand | LC |
Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmannii) | Europe, Asia | LC |
Colombian weasel (Mustela felipei) | South America | VU |
Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) | America | LC |
Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi) | Japan Sakhalin Is. (Russia) | LC |
Yellow-bellied weasel (Mustela kathiah) | Southern Asia | LC |
European mink (Mustela lutreola) | Europe, Northern Asia | CR |
Indonesian mountain weasel (Mustela lutreolina) | Southern Asia | DD |
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) | North America | EN |
Least weasel (Mustela nivalis) | Europe, Asia, North America, NZ | LC |
Malayan weasel (Mustela nudipes) | Southern Asia | LC |
European polecat (Mustela putorius) | Europe, Northern Asia, NZ | LC |
Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica) | Europe, Asia | LC |
Back-striped weasel (Mustela strigidorsa) | Southern Asia | LC |
Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) | Egypt | LC |
- Newborn weasels are blind and open their eyes at 26 to 36 days after birth.
- Adults have a long slender body, generally with a dark or light brown coat on the outer side and white on the inner side.
- They have the ability to change their coat colors as per the season. This proves to be an extremely useful defense mechanism. During summers they have a brownish coat which transforms into a fade white coat with the advent of winter.
- Short-tailed weasels have a pale color on their belly as compared to the rest of their body, and the tip of their tail is black.
- Long-tailed weasels, as the name suggests, have very long tails; almost half the size of their body and head put together.
- Both genders of long-tailed weasels have the same color.
- The Steppe Polecat (also known as the masked polecat) is larger in size than the European polecat.
- The back-striped variety have a silver streak that stretches from the back of the head to the end of the tail. It also has a yellowish-white line on their belly.
- Weasels can live in different habitat, including lowlands, farmlands, woods, and hedges.
- They are found in areas with abundant water, and mark their territories through a pungent secretion from their anal scent glands.
- Long-tailed weasels are generally found in places which have a sizable rodent population and proximity to water.
- The mountain weasel, also known as 'pale weasel', is usually found in areas with a high altitude.
- Least weasel is usually found in fields, meadows, or forests.
- They are exceptional swimmers and climbers.
- They do not hibernate, and are therefore active during summer and winter.
- Weasels generate a pungent odor with the help of their scent glands, when they are irritated. This odor is so strong that it can be smelt from a considerable distance, and is also used as a defense mechanism.
- A weasel doesn't usually dig its own burrow. It takes over the nest of its victim or prey and lines it with leaves or fur to keep it warm during winter.
- When the long-tailed weasels are ready to attack or are frightened, they give away long chirps. The other sound made by them is a low trilling sound, heard when two weasels of the opposite sex meet.
- 'Pop goes the weasel' is a popular nursery rhyme in which these animals are mentioned. However, in reality they make a squelching-like sound.
- They are considered to be ferocious hunters and are often not afraid to confront animals bigger in size.
- Weasels are master predators. They are extremely quick and approach their prey quietly, pouncing on it after getting in range.
- Their long, slender bodies help them hunt their prey by chasing them deep into the burrows.
- Their technique of killing the prey is by biting the back of its neck.
- Short-tailed weasels are excellent hunters and prey on other smaller mammals like rats, rabbits, and squirrels.
- Their diet consists of rodents, frogs, birds, rabbits, and eggs.
- Ermines are known for killing more than they can consume immediately, hence they generally hoard the remaining prey. They never suck the blood of their prey, instead they lick it.
- Although considered nocturnal, long-tailed weasels hunt during the day too.