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Wildlife Wednesday: Fun Weasel Facts
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Posted by Janet Harriett on Apr.28, 2010
Photo Credit: Steve Hillebrand/ US Fish and Wildlife Service
The white and black fur trim on the robes of fairy-tale royalty are ermine pelts. Ermine are a type of mustelid (member of the weasel family) found in the northern latitudes around the world, especially in the areas of Europe where many fairy tales originated. Like most weasels, ermine are brown in the summer. The white fur with the black tail tips is the ermine’s winter coat. So, your fairy tale king is basically wearing the back end of a weasel!
The Least Weasel’s white winter coat fluoresces lavender under a black (UV) light.
Weasels in southern latitudes, which receive less snow, don’t turn white in winter.
Weasels sometimes move into the dens of animals they have killed.
When female weasels prepare to give birth, they line the den with, among other things, mouse fur from mice they’ve killed.
Weasels are prolific hunters. When prey is plentiful, they’ll kill more than they need to eat, and stash the remainders in the den for leaner times.
Baby weasels are called “kits.” Adult males may be called a buck or a jack, and adult females are a doe or a jane. A group of weasels (unlikely to be seen since they’re generally solitary) is a “sneak.”
Posted under Living, Nature and Environment.
Article By: Janet Harriett
Profile: Janet Harriett, Green Diva Mom's fomer editor, has been a writer and editor for print and online media, specializing in education and environmental issues since 1999. She lives on 2 acres in central Ohio with her husband, a 275-square-foot backyard garden and a home orchard growing 25 varieties of fruit. Janet holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing.
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December 16th, 2011 on 3:52 pm
I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to friends and neighbors.