Tiny Predators

Lifestyles

The short-tailed weasel, scientifically known as Mustela erminea, is a predator that inhabits the Arctic grasslands. These creatures have been hunted by humans for a long time, emphasizing the importance of their protection.

Short-tailed weasels are primarily found in Europe, as well as in western, eastern, and southeastern Asia.

Short-tailed weasel is a small predator that resides in the Arctic steppe. Within the Arctic ecosystem, short-tailed weasels and water voles have a close relationship as herbivores and carnivores. Research has shown that these small and slim animals heavily rely on preying on rats, particularly water voles, for their survival.

Short-tailed weasels are incredibly small. They have short and flexible legs, a small and supple body, and can easily pass through spaces as long as their head can fit.

They measure about 30cm in body length, have a tail length of 3 to 7 cm, and weigh around 300 grams. Their skull has a short and wide cranial shape. the distance from the anterior edge of the eye socket to the tip of the snout is less than the width between the two preorbital foramina.

In summer, their back is brown while their abdomen is white. During winter, their entire body is white, except for the brown-black tip of their tail. They inhabit various environments such as tundra, plains, mountain forests, swamps, grasslands, and farmland.

Short-tailed weasels can breed throughout the year, giving birth to 1-3 litters per year, with a gestation period of 35-37 days and 3-7 offspring per litter. The lactation period lasts about 50 days. The short-tailed weasel does not hibernate.

In 2018, the short-tailed weasel was elected as the animal of the year in Swiss.

This slender mammal used to be a common sight in Switzerland; however, its former habitat below 3,000 meters above sea level in low-lying areas has faced repeated threats in recent years.

According to Pro Natura, the short-tailed weasel is listed as a protected species in Switzerland but is not currently endangered. This means that the animal is not at a high risk of extinction in the near future due to factors such as indiscriminate hunting, poaching, environmental damage, scarcity, or limited habitats.

However, people have become the primary threat to the short-tailed weasels in Switzerland, as their natural habitats continue to shrink due to construction and land use. For over 20 years, Pro Natura has been raising awareness about the plight of wildlife through its "Animal of the Year" initiative.