What Does a Weasel Look Like?
Weasels are small mammals in the Mustelidae family, which includes mink, otters, ferrets, and badgers. They have long, snake-like bodies ranging from about 7 to 9 inches in length. They have short legs, small ears, sharp teeth, and claws. Three species of weasels are found in Wisconsin:
The long-tailed weasel has brown fur on its back and legs, white or slightly yellow belly fur, and a long black-tipped tail. Long-tailed weasels are 11 to 17 inches long and weigh between 3 and 10 ounces. Their tails are nearly half the length of their bodies.
The short-tailed weasel, also known as the stoat or ermine, has brown fur on its back and legs, white belly fur, white feet, and a short black-tipped tail. They are 8 to 12 inches long and weigh between 2 and 5 ounces.
The least weasel is the smallest of all weasels, measuring 6 to 7 inches long and weighing 1 to 2 ounces. The least weasel has brown fur, except for the white belly fur. Unlike the long-tailed and short-tailed weasel, the least weasel does not have a black-tipped tail.
Behavior & Habits
Weasels are most active at night. Aside from when they are mating or weaning young, weasels are solitary animals. Weasels are quick on land and excellent climbers. For their size, weasels are quite aggressive and territorial and can kill much larger animals. They have a very strong musk that they spray from their anal glands to mark their territories.
Professional Weasel Removal in Milwaukee, WI
While weasels don’t typically come into conflict with humans, they can be a major problem for poultry farmers. Weasels will take and kill chickens if they can gain access to them, sometimes killing many more than they can eat. Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control provides professional weasel trapping and removal services in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. Our certified wildlife specialists safely and efficiently trap, remove, and exclude nuisance weasels from your property. Call us today for immediate help!
Weasel FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What do weasels eat?
Weasels are carnivores that mainly prey on mice, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, rats, and chickens. Weasels will often kill more than they can eat and store the prey for later.
Where do weasels live?
Weasels prefer to live in wooded areas near water. Long-tailed weasels live on farms, and least weasels live in more open areas like meadows and grasslands. Weasel dens are usually found in rock piles, hollow logs, tree stumps, or burrows dug by other animals.
When do weasels have babies?
Weasels mate in late summer, and the young are born the following spring. Females have one litter per year with four to six kits. The female cares for the young alone. The young are fully weaned at six weeks of age and leave to find their own territories when they are just 11 to 12 weeks old.
How long do weasels live?
The average lifespan of a weasel in the wild is about 2 to 4 years. Weasels have a few predators, including mink, hawks, owls, snakes, and other weasels.
What does weasel poop look like?
Weasel scat is usually one inch long, and tapered at both ends. The poop is dark, thin, and twisted. It may contain small bones, fur, or insect parts. Weasels often deposit their scat on logs or rocks.
What do weasel tracks look like?
Weasels have five clawed toes on each paw; however, the inner toe does not always appear in the tracks they leave behind. The size of weasel tracks varies based on the specific species, ranging from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches in length and width. Weasels move with a loping gait that produces paired tracks, with the rear tracks sometimes covering the front tracks.
Illustration by Dan Goodman