Posted by Janet Harriett on Apr.21, 2010

Photo Credit: Steve Hillebrand/ US Fish and Wildlife Service

In April, Green Diva Mom looks at weasels. Throughout history, “weasel” has been a catchall for members of the mustelid family which also includes otters, mink, but is now mostly applied to the Long-tailed, Short-tailed and Least weasel found across North America. Weasels have a reputation as being aggressive animals and, while their sly reputation is somewhat undeserved, their aggression is, if anything, understated.

Weasels are solitary creatures and attack other weasels that venture into their territory except during mating season. A male weasel’s territory may overlap one or more female weasel’s territory, but two male or two female weasels will not share turf. A single weasel may have a territory as large as 40 acres, though they tend to hunt on the same path throughout the territory.

Divide and Conquer the Prey

Weasels are carnivorous and eat mostly small rodents like mice, rats, rabbits and pocket gophers. Because males are substantially larger than females, males tend to hunt larger prey like rabbits, while females hunt mice more frequently. Since the prey species tend to be agricultural pests, weasels are generally beneficial, even if they do occasionally kill poultry when the rodent and wild bird populations diminish.

Weasels have a very high metabolic rate, so they have to continually look for prey and become very adept hunters quickly. They eat about 40% of their body weight daily, equivalent to a 130-pound woman eating 52 pounds of food every day. That requires a lot of time spent hunting, and weasels become quite adept at the hunt. Their narrow, low-slung body shape allows them to chase prey into dens, and weasels have been known to take up residence in the den system of an animal it has hunted.

When Weasels are Attacked

Owls, coyotes and rattlesnakes are weasels’ primary predators. Weasels are most in danger of predation when they are young. Once they reach maturity and full size at about one year of age, weasels will aggressively go after animals much bigger than themselves, including humans, especially when threatened or hungry. It’s generally not a good idea to get between a weasel and its food, since weasels have been known to attack humans.

Weasels, being related to skunks, also have a similar, though slightly less pungent, method of defense. As with most wildlife, especially carnivorous wildlife, weasels are most safely admired from a distance.

Share

Posted under Living, Nature and Environment.