Weasel (European) - Overview

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Species: Mustela nivalis (European Weasel)

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Population trend: stable

Distribution: throughout England, Scotland and Wales but absent from Ireland, the Isle of Man and most smaller islands. Found widely in rest of Europe and in much of Asia, North Africa and parts of the United States. Introduced to New Zealand.

Habitat: woodland, hedgerows, farmland, moorland and mountains.

Description: long, slim; short furry tail. Reddish-brown upperparts separated from white underparts by a wavy flank line.
       
Length: male - head & body
21.5cm - 28.5cm. Female is smaller.

Height: to shoulder, 4 - 6cm.

Weight: males, up to 115g. Females, up to 59g.

Life-span: 1 - 2 years in the wild. Up to 10 years in captivity.

Food: mainly mice and voles but also rats, moles, small birds, birds' eggs, rabbits.

The weasel is Britain's smallest carnivore and belongs to the same family as the stoat and otter. It is a fierce hunter and is usually only spotted as a long, thin tan-coloured streak as it dashes across a road or woodland path.