Stoat with its white winter coat

StoatStoats (Mustela erminea) are also called Short-tailed Weasels in North America and in winter, with its white winter coat, it is called an Ermine. The Stoat is a very opportunistic hunter, with its diet ranging from small rodents (mice and rats), rabbits, birds, eggs, even fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. It is also an extremely skilled treeclimber, descending from it with its head first, just like a squirrel. Once introduced in New Zealand as a means to control the rabbit population, it now is considered a pest there, since that did more harm than good. The term 'ermine' is also used for its fur, for which they are hunted in some areas. In the wild they are found in the north temperate regions of Eurasia and North America.Picture of the stoat by BozMo, licensed under GFDL

Keywords: tail , black

Which zoos have them?
Minnesota Zoo (United States)

The Ermine, stoat is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Ermine habitats
Subarctic forest
Some facts about the
Ermine

Adult weight : 0.11 kg (0.242 lbs)

Maximum longevity : 13 years

Female maturity :95 days

Male maturity : 365 days

Gestation : 43 days

Weaning : 45 days

Litter size : 7

Litters per year : 1

Interval between litters : 365 days

Weight at birth : 0.002 kg (0.0044 lbs)

Weight at weaning : 0.027 kg (0.0594 lbs)

Basal metabolic rate : 1 W

Body mass : 0.126 kg (0.2772 lbs)

Temperature : 39.85 °C (103.73 °F)

Source: AnAge, licensed under CC

More animals beginning with E

Custom Search
Play animal guess

Contact Us | ©2011 TheWebsiteOfEverything.com | Privacy information | Ermine