Short-Tailed Weasel (Ermine)
Mustela erminea photo credit: Fabio Bretto (Flickr) ID Summer coat is brown with white underbelly, but turns pure white in the winter with a black tail-tip (Smithsonian) Short legs and white feet (Audubon) Distribution Reproduction Mate in June or July, but egg implantation is delayed for 9 to 10 months Active gestation lasts about 1 month Litter of 4-9 young born in April (Audubon) Behavior Highly adaptable predators, sometimes climbing trees or swimming to catch their prey (Smithsonian) Will lick the blood of their prey before eating it [Read More...]