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The Ermine or Stoat (Mustela erminea) is a small mammal that belongs to the family Mustelidae. In certain parts of North America, like Canada, the ermine is also called a short-tailed weasel; elsewhere, "ermine" refers to the animal only when it has white fur, which it molts to in winter in snowy parts of its range. Ermine is the name given to various species of weaselduring the winter season when the fur of those living in colder climates turns white and this allows them to blend in with the snow so its more difficult for predators to find them. This breed is distinct from from the long-tailed weasel (mustela frenata) and the least weasel (mustela rixosa), which live in warmer climates. The Ermine is a rich medium brown with an off-white belly in summer and in winter with regions that experience an inch or more of snow for at least forty days of the year the color changes to clean white; the tip of it's tail is always black Ermines are carnivores that hunt primarily at night and feeds mostly on rodents, especially mice, voles, and lemmings. On occasion, may kill ground squirrels, rabbits, birds and bird eggs, and insects. The ermine is capable of killing animals much larger than itself. Surplus killing may occur, and ermines cache extra food for later use.

Ermines live mostly in grasslands of Eurasia, and North America. Ermine are found all over Canada, northern USA, and Eurasia. They make their dens in the old roots of a tree or in the crevice of a rock. Ermines are capable of having several dens or in the roots of trees farther south, but there are no trees on the tundra. The ermine is a small animal that weighs between 3 - 15 ounces. They look much like a Ferret only larger. In the spring and summer the ermine's coat is chocolate brown with a white underbelly and a black tip on the tail. In the winter the coat turns entirely white except for the black end of its tail. The ermine is a carnivore and eats rabbits, small insects and rodents, birds and amphibians. Their ermine paws have claws which enables it to dig. The front feet are smaller than the back which helps it fit into small, tight spaces. The coat of the ermine changes with the seasons and camouflages it from predators. In winter the ermine's coat is white blending in with the snowy environment, but when warmer weather comes their fur will change to brown to camouflage themselves.

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Are weasels found in Washington state?

Yes. 10 species of weasel can be found in Michigan. They include the least weasel, short-tailed weasel (also known as the ermine or stout), long-tailed weasel, the black-footed ferret and the wolverine, which is the largest member of the weasel family, or Mustelidae.See the related link below for information on some of the weasels found in Michigan.


What is another name for ermine?

The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelidae native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip.


What is a 6 letter weasel family spelled a er?

Ermine (which is also known as a stoat or short-tailed weasel). They are members of the Mustelidae family and are closely related to ferrets, minks, martens and otters.


What is the name of a white rodent indigenous to North Dakota?

A Short Tailed Weasel, Ermine or Stoat, but they are only white when in their winter coat.


What are some carnivores in a taiga?

Lynx, Marten, Wolverine, Brown Bear, Arctic Wolf, Arctic Fox, Ermine, and short-tailed Weasel.


How heavy is an arctic weasel that is also known as a stoat or short tailed weasel?

The ERMINE (short-tailed weasel, or stoat) The ermine is a small animal that weighs between 3 - 15 ounces. The head and body length can range from 7 - 13 inches and the tail can grow up to 5 inches. The males are much longer than the females. They are found throughout the northern temperate, subarctic and Arctic regions, of Europe, Asia, and North America. The winter coats are white, and summer coats are brown. Ermine are fast, very brave and always hungry.


An ermine in its reddish brown summer coat?

An Ermine with white fur in the winter is also known as aStoat when it has brown fur in the summer Ermine is the name given to various species of weasel during the winter season when the fur of those living in colder climates turns white. Ermine belong to the family Mustelidae, the most common of which in North America are the stoat, the long-tailed weasel and the least weasel. The Least weasel or common weasel is reddish-ginger, brighter than that of most other weasels, with white belly fur, which is not always visible during the summer months. In the northern parts of its range it molts to pure white in winter (also called a Snow weasel), the tip of it's tail is yellowThe Ermine, also known as short tailed weasel and stoat is a rich medium brown with an off-white belly in summer and in winter with regions that experience an inch or more of snow for at least forty days of the year the color changes to clean white; the tip of it's tail is always black An ermine (mustela erminea) remains an ermine even though its summer coat is usually brown. Ermine only turn white in winter because they live in cold climates, and this allows them to blend in with the snow so its more difficult for predators to find them.In certain parts of North America, like Canada, the ermine is also called a short-tailed weasel. This breed is distinct from from the long-tailed weasel (mustela frenata) and the least weasel (mustela rixosa), which live in warmer climates.


Are stoats the same thing as a ermine?

No they are not, but are in the same family - The ermine or stoat (Mustela erminea) is a small mammal of the family Mustelidae. In North America it is known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel; elsewhere, "ermine" refers to the animal only when it has white fur, which it moults to in winter in snowy parts of its range. The ferret is a domestic mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo, belonging to the family Mustelidae (weasels) Source: Wikipedia


What group is the ermine in?

Ermine are in the group Mustelidae, which is the group that includes weasels, ferrets, skunks, wolverines, badgers, etc... Ermines are commonly known as Stoats or Short-Tailed weasels.