Sable pictures and facts

Body length 35-36 cm (14 to 22 inches)
Mass 1,25 kg (44 oz)

The Sable (Martes zibellina) can be found all over north Asia, and also in Siberia. They inhabit flatlands, taiga forests and mountainous grounds. They stay away from the very barren mountaintops. The Sable's winter fur is longer than in the the summer. Their fur ranges from light brown to a deep shade of the same hue. They also have a patch of fur at the throat areas, and these can be yellow or white.

Breeding period of the Sable is from June up to August, and the number of newborns on average is 2 to 3. Specifically though, it could be anything from 1 to 7. Gestation time is from 200 to 300 days, while the weaning period would be around seven weeks. Reproductive maturity would be attained in 2 or 3 years' time. It has been observed that the male Sables do ruts, or in other words, grooves on the snow. These ruts would be around 1 meter long. At places where their numbers are few, courting may involve jumping, running but in places where a lot of males are present, violent fights could occur.

In the wild, the longest recorded lifespan was 8 years, while that in captivity was 18. The Sable is diurnal, and it utilizes the senses of hearing and smell to find prey. The Sable takes refuge during bad weather especially in cases of snowstorms, or when they know they are being targeted by man. They may be dangerous in the wild, but records exist asserting that if taken away from the parent at a very tender age, they could be tamed.

Categorically, they are carnivorous, and their diet consists of chipmunks, mice, birds, fish and even squirrels. However, they are also able to subsist on cedar nuts and berries if the animal-preys can not be found. On the other side of the coin, they have their predators too, and for these, nature equipped them with claws and pointed teeth.

Interesting fact: Around 66% of the whole population of the Sable is made up of members below 2 years old.