Wildlife Notebook
The weasel family (Mustelidae) is the most diverse group of carnivores. They vary widely in size, appearance, habitat and diet. Least Weasels are scarcely larger than a mouse, yet their cousin the wolverine is the size of a family dog. Some species spend most of their time in and around water, others are usually underground, and some are often in trees.
Although skunks are the most notorious odour-producing weasels, all members of the weasel family share this ability
Human activities severely impact many weasel species. Some are trapped for their valuable fur. Others suffer from a poor public image and are killed as pests-many because they kill poultry, skunks because of their odour, and badgers because of their diggings.
Humans have driven Black-footed Ferrets to the verge of extinction by killing their prey species: prairie dogs and ground squirrels.
Many weasel species specialize in eating rodents and so help to limit the populations of voles, mice, pocket gophers and ground squirrels. Their instinct to hunt is so strong that they are known to go on rampages, killing more rodents than they can eat! Most weasels are secretive and rarely seen, but they still play an important roll in many ecosystems.
Wolverine | Short-tailed weasel | Long-tailed weasel | Least weasel | American martin | River otter | Mink
Fisher | Striped skunk | Badgers | Black-footed ferret
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