The short-tailed weasel is dark brown with white underparts and feet in the summer. They start changing from brown to white in October, and by now are looking for the cover of snow. Even after turning fully white, the creatures always retain their black-tipped tail.
Weasels in white are often called ermines. I have watched the antics of these sleek, short-legged mammals, usually on woodland trails in late autumn. I also have seen them at suet feeders during the winter. They rarely destroy poultry but are expert mousers. The animal is quick, having adapted to catching mice and other small rodents. They are usually about 10 inches long with a small head and narrow body, enabling them to squeeze into tight spaces. They are frequently spotted near barns and sheds, where mice spend the cold months. The weasels may make their homes in nearby woodpiles or under buildings.
Weasels seem to be distributed fairly evenly over the state in our woods, our fields, around farms and on the outskirts of cities. They are most active at night, using their keen sense of smell to hunt. We might watch them climbing trees, but they seem to be more comfortable on the ground. In good habitat, weasel populations can be as high as 20 per square mile.
Jim Gilbert's Nature Notes are heard on WCCO Radio at 7:15 a.m. Sundays. His observations have been part of the Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendars since 1977, and he is the author of five books on nature in Minnesota. He taught and worked as a naturalist for 50 years.
