Watch as Bandita the stoat transforms to prepare for winter!
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Bandita the stoat has a magic trick
Bandita, the stoat mum living in my garden, is already pretty famous after appearing on a worldwide BBC documentary all about weasels and stoats. But this isn’t her only claim to fame. This tiny creature is also capable of a rare magic trick: the ability to turn white for winter.
Ermine stoats
Bandita is one of a handful of ermine stoats here in North Yorkshire. Ermine’s are known for their remarkable ability to shed their summer fur and replace it with a snow white coat to blend in with winter white landscapes. Bandita preforms this conjuring trick every year – proving that she really is the star of the show here in my North Yorkshire garden.
Going white
Watch this clip to see how already the hairs of her chestnut stoat tail have been replaced with a snow-white fur. As she snuggles up to sleep in her stoat nest you can also see her hind legs have turned white, as have the tips of her tail and her muzzle.
Ermine stoats are rare in the UK
Only some stoats in the UK can actually do this and the transformation trick is inherited. Unfortunately, climate change means these winter white coats are no longer useful camouflage for stoats.
Will the transition be slow?
This is the fourth year that I have watched Bandita turn colour. Sometimes, when winters are mild, the transformation is very slow and she doesn’t go completely white, retaining a sprinkling of brown on her back.
Or are we in for a cold winter?
But when it is cold she tends to turn white quite quickly. We will have to see what this winter brings.
Last year I charted Bandita’s transition from ginger brown to white. Read my blog for more on the process here:
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I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.
Of course, you may like to purchase my artwork which you can find on my website: Many of my paintings are portraits of the wonderful characters you watch here!
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© Robert E Fuller
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