Weasels have keen smell and hearing but their eyes aren’t very good. On the ground, they tend to search in a zig-zag pattern to cover the most area. Weasels burrow under the snow, climb trees, and enter burrows in search of prey. Prey is often killed in excess and sometimes cached for later use (Sheffield and Thomas 1997, Kurta 1995, Wilson and Carey 1994, Flagerstone 1987). They also eat carrion such as deer, beaver, and woodchuck. They also prey on birds, eggs, snakes, frogs, and insects. They do prey on least weasels and ermine on occasion. In some ecosystems, long-tailed weasels are the primary predator of flying squirrels. The main food source is small mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits, but also rats, lemmings, muskrats, pocket gophers, shrews, moles, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks, bats, and snowshoe hare. They are generalists, taking a wide variety of prey. Long-tailed weasels have a high metabolic rate and need to eat 20-70% of their body weight per day depending on season and activity level. This is typical of most mustelids (Kristensen 1997, Sheffield and Thomas 1997, Kurta 1995, Flagerstone 1987, Burt 1976). When disturbed or distressed, a weasel may release a strong scent from glands on either side of the anus. A trill is emitted when the weasel is calm. They are more active in the cool and cold weather and seem to get lethargic in hot weather. Latrines are located at den entrances and often contain bones and skin of prey. They can swim, climb trees, and burrow through snow. Weasels are mostly nocturnal but are often active during the day. Males begin mating when they are 15 months old (Sheffield and Thomas 1997, Kurta 1995, Flagerstone 1987, Burt 1976). Adult females that gave birth come back into estrous 65-104 days after parturition. Females mate their first summer in July-August at 3-4 months old. They get their adult teeth and have adult weight in week 11-12 and disperse soon after. In week five, their eyes open and they are weaned. In the third week, the young have their adult fur and their first set of canines, premolars and incisors erupt. The young are born blind and mostly naked. Average gestation is 279 days and ranges from 205-337 days. After implantation, development occurs for 23-27 more days, and a litter of 4-5 (up to 9) is born in April to May. Implantation is delayed for about 7-8 months. After fertilization, the ova develop for about 68 days and development stops. The female may mate with more than one male. He then mounts her and the copulation may last for 3-4 hours. When he finds a receptive female, he grabs her by the back of the neck until she stops struggling. The male searches for females in estrous by smelling their urine. Females are in estrous for about 3-4 days. The male testes are at their maximum size from April-July. Scat contains fur, bone, and feathers (Murie 1974).īreeding occurs in late spring through summer. in diameter, long, and dark brown or black. The palate extends beyond the first molar. The tympanic bullae are greatly inflated. The length of the upper tooth rows are <20mm in males and <17.8mm in females. The head is triangular, dorsal-ventrally compressed, and has short, rounded ears (Sheffield and Thomas 1997, Courtney and Smith 1988, Flagerstone 1987, Burt 1976). The tail is 44-70% of the head and body length. The body is long and slender with a long neck and short legs. The fall molt (October-November) results in an all white coat with a black-tipped tail. The spring molt (March-April) results in a brown back and sides with white, buff, or yellow chin, neck and belly. The long-tailed weasel molts its short, soft fur twice per year in response to changing photoperiod.
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