ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Short-tailed Weasel

 Short-tailed Weasel

short-tailed weasel

Another name for the short-tailed weasel is “ermine.”

 

short-tailed weasel tracks

Short-Tailed Weasel Tracks
(Click track to enlarge)
 

Short-tailed Weasel
Mustela erminea

At-a-Glance 

• Typical Foods: small mammals, including rabbits, chipmunks, voles, shrews, and mice

• Ohio Status: Species of Concern 
Description
Like other weasels, the short-tailed weasel has a brown coat in the summer and white coat in the winter. They are small, measuring 7-13 inches in length.

Habitat and Habits
This small furbearer inhabits open woodlands, brushy areas, grasslands, wetlands, and farmlands.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Short-tailed weasels mate in the spring and early summer. A litter of four to eight young are born between April and May after a gestation period of about 280 days due to delayed implantation.