Our society tends to give weasels a bad reputation. They are often referred to as untrustworthy, devious creatures. This reputation overlooks the amazing diversity within the weasel family (17 to be exact).
All this variance means that there will be some variation between animals. We are doing them a disservice if we lump them all together (especially so in such a disrespectful manner).
We thought it was a good idea that takes a closer look at the world’s weasels, in order to better understand and appreciate these feared mammals.
What is a weasel?
Before we start, let’s look at the common characteristics of the 17 listed animals — what makes them weasels.
All weasels are predatory animals that have long, thin bodies and small legs. They are able to follow prey into burrows because of their small bodies. Although they don’t eat all rodents, they do eat them. They are found all over the globe, with the exception of Africa, Antarctica, and Australia.
Let’s now meet the weasel family, sans further delay!
1. Mountain Weasel
High-altitude environments are where the mountain weasel resides. These animals love to hide in crevices and tree trunks.
They are most common in India but they can be found all over Asia including Kazakhstan, Tibet, and the Himalayan region. Their environment and food supply are threatened, making them near-threatened.
2. Amazon Weasel
Amazon weasels are the largest species of weasel in South America. They can grow up to 20 inches long.
Because they prefer to live deep in the Amazon jungle, very little information is available about them. They enjoy the water and almost all of their sightings were near the river.
3. Colombian Weasel
Named for the Colombian region where they are found, the Colombian weasel was named after it. They also have a superior name, but it’s not used as often: “Don Felipe’s weasel.”
This weasel is thought to be one of the rarest carnivores South America has, and so much less information about them than Amazon weasels.
4. Japanese Weasel
These animals live in mountains and forests that are near water. They primarily hunt insects, mice, frogs, and crayfish.
Although they are considered to be in danger, their numbers are increasing. These numbers are largely due to the fact that governments in Japan, Russia, and China have introduced them to new habitats to help keep rodent populations under control.
5. Long-tailed Weasel
Although the long-tailed weasel is not named for the area in which it lives, its tail accounts for anywhere from 40-70%. They are well-suited to digging through snow and loose dirt. They can be found all over North America, as well as South America.
6. Yellow-Bellied Weasel
The yellow-bellied weasel is the most commonly used insult in 1940s gangster movies. Their dark yellow underbelly gives them their name. Although it is unclear what purpose if any, this color stands out against the rest of their body which is a much darker shade.
These weasels can be found in Asia where they hunt small mammals such as birds, mice, and voles.
7. The Indonesian Mountain Weasel
The Indonesian mountain weasel lives at altitudes up to 1,000m on the islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. They are currently endangered due to their long history of being hunted and fur trappers.
8. Least Weasel
“Least weasel,” is perhaps the most affectionate name for this animal, since the alternatives to it are “common weasel”, or “little weasel”. However, there is currently one weasel in danger of extinction.
They can be found all over the Northern Hemisphere. Their size and color can vary depending on their location. They are usually brown with a white underbelly. However, they can become completely white if they live at higher altitudes.
9. Malayan Weasel
The Malay Peninsula and Sumatra islands are home to the Malayan weasel, another endangered species. They come in a variety of colors, from reddish brown to grayish white.
Their habitat includes lowland swamps and mountainous forests. Their behavior is not well understood despite their high numbers. They are excellent at hiding from detection so we won’t be able to learn much about them soon.
10. Siberian Weasel
The Siberian weasel is a large species with a vast natural habitat that spans across Asia. Their large numbers make them one the most healthy species on this list. They are monochrome and usually have a shade of red. However, they can have pale underbellies.
Although they eat mainly voles, they don’t like rats or mice. If they have the chance, they may even eat chipmunks and reptiles.
11. The Back-Striped Weasel
The back-striped weasel, another species that is native to Asia has two stripes. One run from their head to their tail base and the other runs down their chest to their belly. They are a light brown color, but can sometimes be paler.
The back-striped weasel, like the Malayan weasel in Asia, is quite common. However, little information is available about them because of their ability to avoid detection.
12. Egyptian Weasel
It isn’t clear if the Egyptian weasel is a separate species or a subspecies. This brown-and-white weasel can be found in Egypt.
This animal is an “obligate synanthropic”, meaning they are close to people. They are often found in the suburbs of towns and villages and will often go through garbage to find food. They are great at controlling rodent populations and humans don’t mind them being around.
13. European Polecat
Polecats are technically a species of weasel but their bodies are smaller and more compact than those of other types. They also have stronger jaws and shorter bodies. Although they aren’t as agile as weasels, polecats can secrete foul-smelling liquids.
European polecats are either brownish-black or blackish-brown in color. However, there are often undertones of yellow or white in their fur. Although they primarily eat frogs and voles, they will eat birds if offered the chance.
14. Black-Footed Ferret
They are found in South Dakota and Arizona. Due to the decline in prairie dog populations and the emergence of sylvatic disease among its members, the species is almost extinct.
These animals have pale bodies and black ears, feet, faces, tails, and some of their tails. Although they resemble polecats, their tails are shorter and their fur is more contrasted than that of proper weasels.
15. European Mink
Experts consider the European mink to be in serious danger. Their decline in numbers is due to habitat changes, overhunting, and competition from new species introduced to their environment in the 20th century.
They can be dark brown or reddish-brown in color and have monochromatic fur (although sometimes they have lighter-colored fur on their chest). They were once common in Europe but are now mainly found in Spain and France.
16. Steppe Polecat
Because of their dark-colored faces and light-colored bodies, the steppe polecat is sometimes called the “masked” polecat. Their numbers are still strong, and they can be found throughout central and eastern Europe.
However, this is not true for their prey. Steppe polecats, which are nomadic in nature, tend to be stationary until they have eaten all of the food in an area. Then they move on. They are adorable locusts.
17. Stoat
The stoat, also known as “ermines”, is a common species in North America and Eurasia. They are a common species throughout Eurasia and North America. However, they can thrive anywhere they are introduced. In New Zealand, they are considered to be an invasive species.
Stoats have dark brown fur on their backs with a white underbelly. In some areas of northern Canada, however, their fur is completely white except for the black tip at the tail. These animals also use the skins of rodents they kill to line their nests.
Which Weasel is Your Favorite?
There are so many types of weasels to choose from that it can be difficult to choose your favorite. Are you more fond of polecats or ferrets? Are you a fan of minks or stoats? There are so many options.
Although we don’t expect you to have a favorite type of weasel we do recommend that you get to know the names of the people on this list as soon as you can. Unfortunately, the list will only get shorter over time.
What other animal is like a weasel?
Mustelidae (Weasel family), which also contains otters, skunks, fishers, ferrets, wolverines, and badgers, comprises mink, weasels, and martens.
What distinguishes a weasel from a mink?
Minks are often bigger than other types of weasels. Mink are 13-18 inches long and weigh up to 3 pounds, whereas ermines are 0.2-0.3 pounds and weasels are 1-2 ounces. Mink can be brown or black, but in Iowa, many mink are black all year.
What is the appearance of a marten weasel?
The American marten is a weasel roughly the size of a mink, with big, rounded ears, short limbs, and a bushy tail. The skull of an American marten is generally trapezoidal, with a pointed snout. The hue of their long, silky fur ranges from pale yellowish buff to tawny brown to practically black.
Is it a mink or an otter I saw?
The most noteworthy distinction between these two species is size. Otters are over 4 feet long, but mink are substantially smaller, measuring less than 2 feet. Mink footprints resemble otter tracks in appearance, although they are considerably smaller (up to 2in x 2in).
Should you report a mink sighting?
Mink will take birds, especially when food is scarce; they are particularly dangerous to young birds and the eggs of any species nesting near water. Mink sightings may be reported; I believe the best place to start is with your local Wildlife Trust.
What distinguishes a weasel from a stoat?
The tail is the simplest and most reliable method to distinguish a stoat (Mustela erminea) from a weasel (Mustela nivalis). The tail of a stoat is about half the length of its body and culminates in a bushy black tip. In comparison, a weasel’s tail is small and stubby, and it is just brown in color.
Do weasels consume rabbits?
The weasel’s principal preys are voles and mice, and its tiny size allows it to follow the rodents into their underground tunnels. It may also eat larger prey like young rabbits and will hunt birds and their eggs.
Is it unusual to see a stoat?
Stoats and weasels are common in the British countryside, although they are rarely seen. And when you see them, it’s usually just a short flash as they dart through the grass in front of you.
What makes a pine marten different from a weasel?
Pine martens are significantly bigger and heavier than weasels. Their typical length is 16.5 – 20.5 inches, with tails adding another 9 – 11 inches. In comparison, the body length of the least weasel ranges from 4.5 to 10 inches, implying that they are 4 to 5 times smaller than pine martens.
What is the name of a little animal that resembles a weasel?
With its long body, small legs, and long neck, the ermine resembles a normal weasel. The short-tailed weasel is so named because it has a considerably shorter tail than its longer-tailed relative, which is appropriately titled – you got it – the long-tailed weasel.