Long-Tailed Weasel
Family:
Mustelidae (weasels) in the order Carnivora
Description:
A slender, long-bodied mammal with short legs and well-furred tail about half the length of the head and body. The head is small, flattened and only slightly larger in diameter than the long neck. The ears are short and rounded, the whiskers prominent and the small eyes beady. In summer, adults are usually dark brown above and yellowish white below with a white chin and black tail tip. In winter, the coat is paler but sometimes in northern Missouri they have an all-white coat except for the black tail tip.
Size:
Males: total length: 13½–17½ inches; tail length: 4½–6¼ inches; weight: 6–9½ ounces. Females: total length: 11½–15½ inches; tail length: 3–5 inches; weight: 2½–4½ ounces.
Habitat and conservation:
Weasels live in a variety of habitats but prefer woodlands, brushy fencerows and thickets along watercourses. Their home is a shallow burrow that was usually the former abode of a mole, ground squirrel or mouse. They also live in rock piles, under tree roots and in dense brushy vegetation. While not abundant in our state, weasels should be encouraged and appreciated. Regulation of harvest is essential, as this species is state-ranked as Vulnerable and is a Species of Conservation Concern.
Foods:
Long-tailed weasels eat animal food entirely, preferring their prey alive and quivering. The only carrion consumed consists of victims they have stored in their burrows. As long as rodents are available, they are eaten almost exclusively. Major food items are mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, shrews, moles and rabbits, and occasionally small birds, bird eggs, reptiles amphibians, earthworms and some insects. Despite their size, weasels are voracious predators.
Distribution in Missouri:
Statewide.
Status:
In our state, a Species of Conservation Concern. Rare in Missouri but most common in the south-central and southwestern portions. Population densities generally correspond to abundance of mice, their major food source.
Life cycle:
Mating is usually in July or August, but the young are not born until the following April or May. The total gestation period averages 279 days, but the embryos undergo a long dormant period before implantation and further development. The single annual litter usually has 4–8 young. Weaning begins at about 5 weeks of age. Young males don’t mate their first summer, although females become sexually mature when 3–4 months old.
Human connections:
Fur was harvested in the past, but weasels no longer may be trapped in Missouri. Many weasels are destroyed by farmers who report them killing poultry. Certain individuals sometimes kill poultry, but the species as a whole causes little economic loss. Weasels eat large numbers of mice and rats.
Ecosystem connections:
Weasels are aggressive and ferocious predators that eat mice, rats, shrews and even cottontail rabbits. They are also fed upon by other predators such as great horned owls, hawks, foxes and bobcats. MDC's Mission, Vision, Priorities
MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.
Shortened URL
http://mdc.mo.gov/node/4239
