The smallest furry predatory animal is the weasel. Possessing a completely calm appearance and a kind look, he also has aggressive qualities. He is a mouse hunter, which is where he got his name from Latin.
Hand caress
Long gone are the days when people kept familiar pets such as cats and dogs at home. The animal weasel, a description of which can be found in almost any special sources, is not tame by nature. But the growing interest in everything new and unusual is forcing people to acquire various exotic animals and tame them. Almost any representative of the animal world is successfully kept at home by many exotic lovers, as this is at the peak of popularity today. If you start taming animals from infancy, then such a predator as the weasel will become your favorite pet. The animal at home shows very friendly feelings towards humans. It willingly sleeps in the same bed with its owner, has difficulty leaving him even for a short period of time, and actively plays with other pets. A tamed weasel can live up to 7 years, while in the wild, due to constant danger, it lives only about a year.
Weasel appearance
According to their own external characteristics the weasel is very similar to the ermine, has an elongated and very flexible body. The size of the weasel animal in length varies between 18-28 centimeters, including the tail. Moreover, the length of the latter does not exceed 9 centimeters. Weight adult can range from 40-115 grams.
The weasel's fur is short, close-fitting and silky. Length hairline approximately 1 centimeter.
Depending on the season, weasel fur tends to change its color. The picture below shows a snow-white weasel (animal). The photo was taken in winter time of the year. Here the animal is completely white.
At other times of the year, its color changes to brownish-brown. Only the color of the lower body remains unchanged - this unique feature available in a limited number of predators, one of which is the weasel (animal). The photo shows that the inside of the paws, abdominal area, chest and throat remain white, while the rest of the skin is brown.
Weasel habits
The weasel animal is quite dexterous and agile, and is distinguished by courage and audacity. In order to hunt rodents, it adapts to almost any living conditions, overcomes bodies of water without any difficulties, and deftly penetrates various holes and crevices. Shows the greatest vital activity during twilight and at night, but during the day it does not lead quiet activities, staying most time on the move, exploring your own territory for tasty prey. Prefers to be in an artificially protected space rather than in open area. During an approaching danger, the weasel animal will stubbornly defend its nesting site, while risking its own life. When urgently needed, it carries its cubs to a safe place, and if attacked, it can gnaw the throat of even a larger predator.
What to feed your weasel at home
Living in nature, weasels literally hunt for their food, that is, they do not just get it among forested and desert riches, but chase after it. In order to provide themselves with food, they catch various mouse-like rodents and frogs, so domestic weasels are animals that need to be provided with a diet as similar as possible to the one they adhere to while living in the wild. Also on the animal's menu natural conditions there is poultry meat - larks, chickens, pigeons, as well as various seafood that is washed ashore by the surf, for example small fish. The weasel needs such portions that it can get enough of its fill in one meal. On average, the animal's daily food intake is approximately 30-40 grams. In addition to animal products, weasels can be fed with special dry vitamin food that ferrets eat. It can be purchased at any pet store.
Conditions for keeping weasels at home
The domesticated weasel is not very different in how it is kept at home from other animals. Her constant presence in the apartment space can aggravate her health condition and change her behavior in ways that are not intended for her. better side. That is why the best option will create the most similar living conditions in the house to the conditions that she needs due to her natural nature. When your weasel walks around your home, you must close all doors and windows through which it could escape into the street. If the animal runs away, there is a high probability of losing it forever.
Petting house
In order for the weasel animal to feel free and comfortable, in no case should its freedom be limited in the owner’s living space. But at the same time, he must have his own separate house - a cage. Setting up a weasel cage is quite easy, you need to equip it with various driftwood so that she can climb on them, cover the bottom with straw, build various shelves in it, put a drinking bowl with clean water and definitely a litter tray. The bars of the weasel cage should be dense so that she has no opportunity to escape from there. Constantly keeping a weasel in a cage is not recommended; such confinement can cause the animal to become aggressive.
Weasel care
The weasel is a completely independent animal, so caring for it will not be difficult. Mandatory conditions are:
- Regular feeding and varied diet.
- Walking on fresh air and in an apartment outside the cage.
- Periodic consultations with a veterinarian regarding the health of the animal.
If a weasel gets dirty while walking outside or turns over a bowl with some contents on itself at home, you can bathe it. To do this, you need to create the condition of a reservoir, for example, simply fill the bath with water. The weasel will willingly swim, and at the same time clean its fur of unnecessary elements. During seasonal molting If you are an animal, the carpets and furniture in the house need to be vacuumed and cleaned more often. But combing the animal’s fur is not at all necessary, but if you particularly desire, you can remove the falling hairs from the weasel’s fur with wet hands using light massage movements. If the veterinarian identifies any abnormalities in the health of the weasel, immediate measures must be taken to ensure its recovery. It is necessary to follow the recommendations of a specialist, and everything you need can be purchased at a special veterinary pharmacy or pet store.
Weasel is the smallest animal from the order of carnivores. The body length of the male does not exceed 26 cm, and the weight does not exceed 250 g, the size of the female is even smaller - her body length is no more than 21 cm, and her weight is 108 g. Weasels are beautiful and slender animals, they have an elongated body, short legs, Very a long tail, the head is small, and the ears are small and rounded. Coat color usually depends on the time of year. In winter it is plain white, and in summer it is two-tone - the back and top part the heads are brown, and the belly and breast are white. In some regions, weasels' coat color does not change and always remains two-colored.
Spreading
Weasels are quite widespread. They live in North America, Europe and northern Asia. Inhabit areas with temperate climate and partially Arctic zone. Forests and fields are the weasel’s favorite habitats; this animal is also found in mountainous areas, semi-deserts and other places.
Nutrition
The weasel successfully hunts many small animals. Most often, its prey is mice, but it can also catch a hamster, jerboa, mole, rat and rabbit. It can also hunt birds, lizards, frogs, snakes and insects. Weasels often raid chicken coops, where they steal chicks and young hens.
Lifestyle
Weasel is a very fast and agile animal. She is an excellent tree climber, runs fast and can swim well. The weasel easily hunts small game and bravely fights off predators who dare to attack it.
Weasel looking for prey
This small, agile animal often lives alone, but can also form colonies. It moves along its own permanent paths, but lives in different burrows, among which there are both temporary and permanent ones. The weasel often settles in the burrow of the animal that has become its prey.
Cubs are usually born in the summer, but can be born at other times of the year. Typically, a female gives birth to 5 to 10 babies. Newborn weasels are very small, blind, deaf and toothless. The cub's body length is slightly more than 4 cm, and its weight is even less than 2 g. After about three weeks, the babies' eyes open and they begin to hear sounds. Weasels become adults at the age of 11 months.
Weasels do not live long - usually from one to three years, but there are cases when males lived up to the age of 6 years.
- IN Ancient Rome and Europe, weasels were kept as pets because they helped fight mice.
- Weasels often become heroes of fairy tales and cartoons, but most often they are given the role of negative heroes.
Brief information about weasel.
Today we tried to collect all the most interesting things. The weasel animal, the photo of which is given below, although small, is a very formidable predator of our forests. And we will tell you about it today.
Is it a kind caress?
Weasel is a small cute animal belonging to the mustelidae order. This mammal, despite its name, which symbolizes something kind and gentle, is considered very bloodthirsty and aggressive.
Appearance of weasel
The body length of this animal does not exceed 22 centimeters, and the animal weighs only from 40 to 100 grams! This tiny creature is very resourceful and nimble. Weasels have a thin and long body. The animal also has a long, but not fluffy tail with a “surprise”: the fact is that right under the tail there are glands that secrete a very odorous substance, the smell of which is very pungent and unpleasant.
The weasel has an elongated muzzle, and its ears are round and small. Nature has endowed the animal with expressive dark eyes, which makes the weasel look like such a cute animal! The animal's neck is solid, not thin.
The fur cover is very beautiful, although the weasel is not fluffy, it has close-fitting, short fur. The weasel is a shedding animal, so its color varies depending on the time of year. With the onset of winter, the weasel “puts on” a protective coat white to become invisible snow cover. But in the warm season, the animal becomes brownish-brown, and only white fur remains in the lower part of the body.
Apparently a squirrel lives in a hollow tree... the weasel is very dangerous for it. Weasel lifestyle and behavior
This little animal has a very predatory nature, it behaves, at times, very impudently and insolently. It can even allow itself to sneak into outbuildings near residential buildings to get food.
The weasel is a very active animal; it is awake both day and night, but most often it hunts in the dark. The animal does not like to appear in open, unprotected areas, preferring to spend more time in thickets of bushes or in other secluded places.
The animal's lifestyle is solitary. Each individual “separates” a territory for itself in which it lives and hunts, usually no more than 10 hectares. Weasels mark the boundaries of their “domains” with scents left by their tracks.
Where does the weasel live? Photos in nature
If we talk about the range on the scale of states and continents, the animal is found in North America, Korea, Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Australia, Europe, Algeria, and Japan. As you can see, the weasel lives on almost everything globe.
Concerning natural areas, then here the animal is not very picky: it can live in a variety of biotopes, but it avoids polar deserts and snowy highlands. The weasel lives in the tundra, on the banks of reservoirs, in the lowlands, in the forest-steppe, in the forest, in alpine meadows and even in the desert. Sometimes it can settle near human habitation.
But the weasel is in no hurry to build a “home” for itself - it’s easier for her to occupy someone’s home, for example, a rodent’s hole. In addition, the weasel can equip itself with a home in a barn or in some ruins, natural openings (cracks) or under stones. Inside the “house” of this animal, everything is covered with leaves of chestnut, fern or any dry herbs.
What does a weasel eat?
The main food for weasels are mice and other rodents (, rats, voles). But if she managed to get into the territory of a human dwelling, then she will not leave without prey. This little nimble thief will definitely take with her a small rabbit, hen or chick, pigeon or partridge. And if he finds eggs, he will eat them too.
When its main food is little or not at all, the weasel can get enough of it by eating a snake, lizard, large insects or fish. This animal sometimes stores food for itself, for example it can hide mice.
How do weasels reproduce?
In the first month of spring, these animals begin mating season. It takes place very brightly: males arrange fights for females, all this is accompanied by various sounds, and very loud ones at that.
But as soon as pregnancy occurs, the males leave the female. Gestation of the cubs lasts 35 days. During this time, the expectant mother prepares a home where she will nurse her offspring. For herself and her cubs, the weasel lines the nest with soft grass and moss to make the babies cozy and warm.
The weasel's Latin name translates to "snowy" because of its snow-white winter coat.
Area: Europe, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Asia Minor, northern Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia, China, Korean Peninsula, Japan, North America, Australia.
Description: Weasel is the smallest representative of mustelids. The body is very elongated and thin. The paws are short, armed with sharp claws. The neck is long and powerful. The head is narrow, the muzzle is small and blunt, and the ears are rather small. The nose is slightly forked. The eyes are large, dark, and slightly bulging. The tail is very short. The coat is short and lying. At the base of the tail there are anal glands that secrete an unpleasant-smelling secretion.
Color: depends on the season. In summer, the upper body is brownish-brown, and the edge of the upper lip, belly and inner side The paws are white, there are brown spots at the corners of the mouth, and the tail is brownish-brown. In winter, the weasel turns completely white.
Size: body length - 13-28 cm, tail - up to 9 cm
Weight: males - 70-105 g, females are 30% smaller.
Lifespan: in nature up to 5 years (on average up to 9.5 months).
Habitat: various biotopes (forests, steppes and forest-steppes, field margins, swamps, banks of reservoirs, deserts, tundra, alpine meadows, near human habitation).
There is no weasel in the polar deserts and snow belt of the mountains.
Enemies: predators (sable, badger, pine marten, raccoon dog), as well as: (), .
Many animals die from viral or bacterial infections.
Food: Almost the entire diet of weasels consists of small mouse-like rodents (house, field and forest), as well as young birds, chickens, eggs and chicks. When there is a shortage of food, it eats small, small, etc.
The daily feed requirement is 30-40 g.
Behavior: Weasel is a dexterous and agile animal, runs fast, climbs and swims well. It is distinguished by its courage and bloodthirstiness, capable of crawling through the narrowest cracks and holes. The mice are chased into their own holes. It grabs small animals by the back of the head or head, biting through the skull in the back of the head, and often attacks animals much larger than itself, grabbing their neck. The weasel makes several holes in bird eggs and sucks out the contents.
Often stores reserves (from 1 to 30 voles and mice are found in one place).
Active in different time days, but more often hunts at dusk and at night. Moves by jumping.
Leads a (mostly) earthly lifestyle. When walking around its area, it stays close to bushes and other cover. Avoids open places. It can cover 1-2 km per day. In winter, when there is deep snow, it moves in its voids.
It does not dig holes, but uses rodent holes or voids between stones, wood piles, low-lying (up to 2 m) tree hollows, tree roots and dead wood, and rock crevices. He drags dry grass, moss and leaves into the den. There are usually several permanent dwellings built on the site.
Weasels often die, crushed by stronger predators, but sometimes she manages (right in the air) to gnaw off the throat of her enemy.
Social structure: Weasel leads a solitary and territorial lifestyle. The size of an individual plot is small - up to 10 hectares. These sizes depend on the abundance of prey and weather. Often the male's site overlaps the female's. The boundaries of the area are marked with scent marks.
Reproduction: polygamous, during the rutting season a male can mate with several females.
For childbirth, the female lines the nest with dry grass, moss and leaves. If the nest is disturbed, the mother moves the cubs to another place. In case of extreme danger, the weasel defends its nest to the last. Broods stay together for 3-4 months and break up at the end of summer or autumn.
Breeding season/period: spring (in March). During years of abundance of mouse-like rodents, it reproduces all year round(up to 2-3 broods).
Puberty: about 3 months.
Pregnancy: Embryo development takes up to 35 days. There is no latent stage during pregnancy.
Offspring: on average, a female gives birth to 4-5 puppies (the number depends on the abundance of food).
Newborns are blind and helpless, covered with sparse whitish fluff, their weight is about 1.5 g. Eyes open on days 21-25 of life. When the puppies begin to leave the nest, they follow their mother everywhere, exploring the immediate surroundings, and then move further and further from their native nest. Gradually, the following reflex weakens, and young animals begin to travel independently.
Benefit/harm for humans: The weasel has no hunting significance. Currently there is no hunt for her. Previously (in post-war period) every year from 3 to 20 thousand skins were harvested.
Weasel in huge quantities(up to 2-3 thousand per year) exterminates mouse-like rodents, thereby bringing great benefits.
In the old days, many superstitions and prejudices were associated with affection. In some places it was believed that she brought happiness to the house, while in others she was treated very poorly.
Population/Conservation Status: Weasel population density varies greatly and depends on habitat conditions, year and the state of the food supply.
Select 8 subspecies of the common weasel:
- northern weasel Mustela nivalis nivalis- northern and middle parts of Eastern Europe, steppes Western Siberia and with southern Siberia before Pacific Ocean;
- southern weasel M. n. Vulgaris- Western Europe and South part former USSR(except for Crimea);
- Crimean weasel M. n. Nikolskii- Crimea and adjacent parts of Ukraine;
- big M. n. Dinniki and small M. n. Caucasica Caucasian weasels - Caucasus and Transcaucasia;
- Turkestan weasel M. n. Pallida- mountains Central Asia, Tien Shan, Pamir and Kopet-Dag;
- Siberian or tundra weasel M. n. pygmaea - Far East Russia.
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IN time immemorial the weasel was called "Nemesis". This is a comparison with greek goddess retaliation is quite justified, since the weasel is a very formidable hunter. She is dexterous, agile, brave and aggressive, and her victims sometimes become animals that are larger than our heroine.
The common weasel is widespread in Russia, but few manage to see it in nature. During the day, she prefers to spend more time in burrows, bushes or other secluded places. In addition, this animal is very small and so fast that even when faced with it, you do not have time to take a good look.
Habitats, descriptions, types and photos of weasels
The weasel is considered the smallest carnivore in Europe: the weight of males rarely exceeds 250 grams, while females are 2 times lighter. The animal has a long slender body, short limbs, a sharp muzzle, an almost triangular head flattened on top and small rounded ears.
Most individuals are brown above and white or yellow below in summer. In winter, in northern populations, these animals change the color of their fur coat to white.
The weasel is found from the tropics to the Arctic, in North and South America, Africa, and Eurasia. It was also brought to New Zealand. Inhabits a wide variety of habitats: forests, meadows, fields, steppes, bushes along river valleys. Sometimes it enters populated areas.
Common weasel (Mustela nivalis)
This species lives throughout Europe from Atlantic coast(except Ireland), in Central Asia south to the Himalayas, in North America and in North Africa. Acclimatized in New Zealand. Found everywhere in Russia.
The size of this species varies greatly from the small northern form in America (body length of males 15-20 cm, weight -30-70 grams) to the largest forms in Turkmenistan (body length 23-24 cm, weight up to 250 grams). The color is brown above, white below. In winter, the fur of the common weasel turns completely white in all regions except Western Europe and southern Russia.
Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata)
Found in North America, in the northern part South America along the Andes to Bolivia.
It's pretty close-up view: body length 23-35 cm, weight 200-340 grams. In summer, the color is brown above and white below; the tip of the tail is black even when changing the outfit to winter white.
Previously, this animal was actively hunted for its valuable fur, but with changes in fashion, the demand for its fur fell.
Amazonian weasel (Mustela africana)
Lives in Brazil and eastern Peru.
Body length 31-32 cm. Color reddish-brown above, lighter below. There is a black longitudinal stripe on the abdomen. Feet are bare.
Colombian weasel (Mustela felipei)
Found in the mountainous regions of Colombia.
Body length is 21-22 cm. The color is blackish-brown above, orange or yellowish-brown below. Paws are webbed, soles are bare.
The photo shows a Colombian weasel with prey.
White-striped weasel (Mustela strigidorsa)
Lives in Nepal and Indochina.
The color is dark, chocolate brown (lighter in winter). There is a silver stripe along the back and a yellowish stripe along the belly. Upper lip, chin and throat are whitish in color. The tail is very fluffy.
This species lives in Southeast Asia.
The color is bright red, only the head is white.
North African weasel (Poecilictis lybica)
Found in semi-desert regions of North Africa.
Body length 22-28 cm, weight – 200-250 grams. The fur is shaggy, black in color with stripes and spots of various shapes.
South African weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)
This species lives in the arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
Body length 25-35 cm, weight – 230-350 grams. The color is black with 4 white and 3 black longitudinal stripes on the back; the tail is white.
Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)
Lives in the pampas of Argentina and Chile.
The body size ranges from 30 to 35 cm. The back is grayish, the underparts are brown, the top of the head is creamy white.
Lifestyle of small predators
The weasel lives in holes, and does not dig them itself, but uses the homes of rodents, arranging them to his liking. She lines the bottom of the hole with dry grass, leaves, and moss. There are several holes in an individual animal's area. Sometimes the animal makes its home under stones, in barns or some ruins.
Males and females have separate areas, which can overlap in different sexes, but never in animals of the same sex. Weasels living in the same area try in every possible way to avoid contact with each other. The size of the site of each individual depends primarily on whether there is a lot of food on it. If there is enough food, it can be small - only 1 hectare.
The weasel, like all mustelids, is a ground hunter. She can easily cope with a young rabbit, but this is not particularly necessary if the main food - small rodents - is available in abundance. She is a ruthless hunter of mice and voles: weasel pursues rodents both in thick grass and under snow. Birds, insects and lizards are also eaten.
For its modest size, the predator has remarkable strength. An animal, for example, is able to quickly run with prey equivalent to half its own weight.
Weasels are active both during the day and at night, but most often hunt under the cover of darkness. Long slender body helps small predator pursue prey directly into burrows or other shelters of victims, and sharp claws and teeth can easily cope with relatively large game. In hunting, the agile animal is also helped by the ability to quickly run, jump, climb trees and swim. Sometimes weasels make supplies in case of lack of food - they store killed mice in their hole.
Like all mustelids, the weasel has a habit of becoming a “column” on hind legs– so she can better see the surroundings Mating season most often occurs in March. At this time, males start noisy fights over females. Having defeated his rivals and achieved the female’s favor, the male sets off in search of new girlfriend. And the female begins to prepare a shelter, in which, after 35 days, from 1 to 8 blind and covered with sparse fur cubs will be born.
Babies open their eyes at the age of 3-4 weeks. The mother feeds the children with milk until 6-12 weeks of age, but already at 3-4 weeks the cubs begin to get used to meat food.
The weasel is a very caring mother, constantly caring for and protecting her offspring, and in case of danger, carries them to another place in her teeth.
After completing milk feeding, the young remain with their mother for several more weeks, and then look for a new habitat.
Weasels live in nature for no more than 5 years, but in captivity they can live up to 10 years.
Weasel and man
Traditionally, people considered mustelids not only as a source of valuable fur, but also as an ally in the fight against rodents. Every year, these small predators significantly reduce the number of agricultural pests. In some places, farmers are releasing weasels to protect their homes and crops from rodents, or at least to prevent outbreaks of rodent numbers. Mustelids were especially valued in Europe until the 9th century, when domestic cats were brought there. In 1884 common weasel was specially settled in New Zealand to deter raids European rabbits to the sheep pastures. However, the initiative was not successful. Instead of rabbits, mustelids began to eat birds nesting on the ground. Now small mustelids have become a real disaster for New Zealand.
On the one hand, by destroying rodents, the weasel brings benefits. At the same time, it can harm the poultry yard of farmers, but small predators rarely raid chicken coops, and only if their main food - small rodents - is absent.
In the middle of the 20th century, the weasel was considered a valuable fur-bearing animal, but today its fur has no industrial or hunting value, it is not hunted, and for most members of the group there is no serious threat.
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