Fascinating Facts about..
Weasel
Scientific name: Mustela nivalis Widespread throughout Britain, weasels are our smallest and probably most numerous carnivores. An adult male weasel is less than 24cm from nose to tail-tip, females are even smaller.
Weasels are sometimes confused with their close relative, the stoat. Stoats are larger, up to 30cm, and have a longer tail with a distinctive black tip. They are found in a wide range of habitats, which include urban areas, lowland pasture and woodland, marshes and moors.
Weasels hunt small rodents and their numbers depend on the abundance of their prey.
Weasels have to eat one third of their body weight every 24 hours.
The weasel’s small size enables it to search through tunnels of mice and voles, which means it can hunt at any time of the day or year.
They do not hibernate and can hunt even under deep snow.
Dens are usually nests of former prey. In cold climates the nests are lined with fur from prey.
Only one litter, of 4-6 young, is born per season.
Only one in 80-90 weasels survives to over two years old. They are small enough to be prey for predators like hawks, owls, foxes, cats and mink.
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