Weasel Weasels may look adorable, but they make light work of eating voles, mice and birds! They are related to otters and stoats, which is obvious thanks to their long slender bodies and short legs.
Scientific name
Mustela nivalis
When to see
January to December
Species information
Category
Mammals
Statistics
Length: 17-22cm Tail: 3-5cm Weight: 55-130g Average lifespan: 2 years
Conservation status
Common.
Habitats
Grassland
Heathland and moorland
Farmland
Woodland
Towns and gardens
About
Weasels are the UK’s smallest carnivore. They like to eat voles, mice and small birds. They belong to a group of animals known as mustelids, which means they have a long body and short legs and are related to otters and stoats. They live in lots of different habitats including woodland, grassland, and moorland. Their young are called kits, and they can have up to two litters a year with three to six kits per litter.
How to identify
The weasel has a russet-brown back, and a creamy white throat and belly. It is smaller than the similar stoat, has a shorter tail with no black tip, and has a running gait, with a straight back; stoats bound along, arching their backs as they go.
Distribution
Widespread in England, Wales and Scotland, but absent from Northern Ireland and most islands.
Did you know?
Weasels are so small and agile that they fit into the burrows of their small rodent prey, enabling them to hunt day or night and in any season; they can even hunt in the snow! Species
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