Do not let their size fool you. These pint-sized predators pack a punch! Weasels are fast, fierce, and surprisingly clever, with hunting skills that rival those of much larger animals. Discover twelve wild facts that reveal just how fascinating, adaptable, and downright fearless these tiny carnivores are.
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Photographed By Judy Lehmberg
Weasels Are the World’s Smallest Carnivores
Some species, like the least weasel, weigh as little as 25 grams. An adult least weasel grows no longer than 26 centimetres, with its body build being the reason why it is such a proficient hunter.
They Belong to the Mustelid Family
Weasels are related to otters, badgers, and ferrets. The long-tailed weasel evolved nearly 2 million years ago, originating in North America.
Their Bodies Are Built for Stealth
With long, slender forms, they can slip into burrows and narrow spaces to catch prey.
Photographed By Judy Lehmberg
Weasels Are Fierce Hunters
Despite their size, they can take down prey much larger than themselves, like rabbits and rats. A weasel must eat at least a third of its body weight daily. They enter the burrows of rodents and rabbits to snatch prey that can be several times larger than themselves.
They Are Lightning Fast
Their fast reflexes and high metabolism make them alert and relentless predators. Weasels often dart about and disappear in an instant, only to reappear seconds later in a different location. Now, one might think about the nursery rhyme “Pop goes the Weasel” and associate it with the speed of a weasel; however, that is not true.
Weasels Are Mostly Solitary
They are territorial animals and prefer to hunt and live alone, except during mating season. These mammals are not social animals and would rather live apart before coming together during the mating season, whereby the males will mate with multiple females and do not give parental care.
Photographed By Judy Lehmberg
They Change Colour with the Seasons
In colder climates or seasons, some weasels turn white in winter to blend in with the snow. In the Autumn months, its white hair replaces its brown summer coat. The weasel then becomes pure white, leaving only a black tipped tail for a touch of colour.
Weasels Don’t Build Their Own Homes
Weasels do not build their own homes; instead, they inhabit another animal's home or den when it has been abandoned. They may also use small crevices within rocks and or hollow wooden structures as temporary homes.
They Are Active Year-Round
Weasels do not hibernate and are often active even during harsh winters. Depending on the type of season, weasels may display nocturnal or daytime behaviour.
Photographed By Judy Lehmberg
A Weasel’s Metabolic Rate Is Extremely High
They need to eat frequently, sometimes consuming up to half their body weight daily. Weasels are carnivores that mainly prey on smaller animals as well as insects. They are also known to feed on anything available to them. Birds and bird eggs are some of their favourite and easiest meals.
Weasels Are Found Almost Worldwide
They inhabit every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Not just that, other members of the weasel family include the fisher, the badger, the pine marten, the mink, the otter, and the wolverine (not the Marvel kind), which are found in various parts of the world.
They Use a Hypnotic Dance to Stun Prey
Some weasels have been observed performing a wild ‘war dance’ to confuse or distract their prey before striking. The stoat (also called the ermine or the short-tailed weasel) is known to stun prey such as rabbits with a dance. This dance is not limited to hunting; it can also be seen in domestic ferrets during play, when they are expressing excitement or bursts of energy.
