#stoat #ermine
#amazinganimals facts for kids
The stoat or short-tailed weasel, also known as the ermine, is a mustelid native to Eurasia and North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
The name ermine is used for species in the genus Mustela, especially the stoat, in its pure white winter coat, or the fur thereof.
Introduced in the late 19th century into New Zealand to control rabbits, the stoat has had a devastating effect on native bird populations. It was nominated as one of the world’s top 100 “worst invaders”.
As with the least weasel, mouse-like rodents predominate in the stoat’s diet. However, unlike the least weasel, which almost exclusively feeds on small voles, the stoat regularly preys on larger rodent and lagomorph species, and will take down individuals far larger than itself. In Russia, its prey includes rodents and lagomorphs such as European water voles, common hamsters, pikas, and others, which it overpowers in their burrows. Prey species of secondary importance include small birds, fish, and shrews and, more rarely, amphibians, lizards, and insects.
Thumbnail: “Stoat” by Derek.P. is licensed with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit /
