What is an ermine that is also known as a stoat or short tailed weasel?

Answer 1

The Ermine or Stoat (Mustela erminea) is a small mammal that belongs to the family Mustelidae. In certain parts of North America, like Canada, the ermine is also called a short-tailed weasel; elsewhere, "ermine" refers to the animal only when it has white fur, which it molts to in winter in snowy parts of its range. Ermine is the name given to various species of weaselduring the winter season when the fur of those living in colder climates turns white and this allows them to blend in with the snow so its more difficult for predators to find them. This breed is distinct from from the long-tailed weasel (mustela frenata) and the least weasel (mustela rixosa), which live in warmer climates. The Ermine is a rich medium brown with an off-white belly in summer and in winter with regions that experience an inch or more of snow for at least forty days of the year the color changes to clean white; the tip of it's tail is always black Ermines are carnivores that hunt primarily at night and feeds mostly on rodents, especially mice, voles, and lemmings. On occasion, may kill ground squirrels, rabbits, birds and bird eggs, and insects. The ermine is capable of killing animals much larger than itself. Surplus killing may occur, and ermines cache extra food for later use.

Ermines live mostly in grasslands of Eurasia, and North America. Ermine are found all over Canada, northern USA, and Eurasia. They make their dens in the old roots of a tree or in the crevice of a rock. Ermines are capable of having several dens or in the roots of trees farther south, but there are no trees on the tundra. The ermine is a small animal that weighs between 3 - 15 ounces. They look much like a Ferret only larger. In the spring and summer the ermine's coat is chocolate brown with a white underbelly and a black tip on the tail. In the winter the coat turns entirely white except for the black end of its tail. The ermine is a carnivore and eats rabbits, small insects and rodents, birds and amphibians. Their ermine paws have claws which enables it to dig. The front feet are smaller than the back which helps it fit into small, tight spaces. The coat of the ermine changes with the seasons and camouflages it from predators. In winter the ermine's coat is white blending in with the snowy environment, but when warmer weather comes their fur will change to brown to camouflage themselves.

Answer 2

The ermine (Mustela erminea) is a small mammal of the family Mustelidae. It is also known as the short-tailed weasel and the stoat.

The stoat is a small carnivorous mammal, they grow to about 16 inches long including the tail. They are reddish brown with a slightly yellowish white belly fur and a black tip to the tail. They are related to weasels and otters, all are members of Mustelidae.

The stoat can be found almost everywhere throughout the northern temperate, subarctic and Arctic regions, of Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States. It was introduced into New Zealand in an unsuccessful attempt to control the rabbit population and is considered a serious pest because it eats the eggs and young of native birds. It is also regarded as a major predator of adult female endemic birds that nest in cavities such as holes in trees. The stoat is considered to be the prime cause of the decline and/or extinction of a number of endemic New Zealand bird species. Stoats are largely nocturnal or crepuscular but will sometimes come out during the day. == == Source wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat

Answer 3

The Ermine is not an endangered animal Ermines are not endangered. In fact they are least of care.

Answer 4

The ermine's fur turns white in the winter to help them blend in with their surroundings (snow), so it's more difficult for predators to to find them.

Answer 5

Baby ermine are called kits.