Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Weasels feed on small mammals and have from time to time been considered vermin because some species took poultry from farms or rabbits from commercial warrens. They do, on the other hand, eat large numbers of rodents. Their range spans Europe, North America, much of Asia and South America, and small areas in North Africa.
Family Mustelidae (otters, weasels and relatives) North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) RI; Least weasel (Mustela nivalis) U; American ermine (Mustela richardsonii) U [11] Long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata) U; American mink (Neogale vison) U; Fisher (Pekania pennanti) RI; Family Mephitidae (skunks) Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) C
Stoat killing a rabbit The fisher , tayra, and martens are partially arboreal, while badgers are fossorial . A number of mustelids have aquatic lifestyles, ranging from semiaquatic minks and river otters to the fully aquatic sea otter, which is one of the few nonprimate mammals known to use tools while foraging.
In North America, where the ecological niche for rat- and rabbit-sized prey is taken by the larger long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata), the American ermine preys on mice, voles, shrews, young cottontails, [7] chipmunks, deer mice, jumping mice, and house mice. Usually the ermine kills by biting at base of skull.
Males tend to eat more mammals and crustacean while females tend to eat a more varied diet of insects, fruit and earthworms. [1] Their stomachs can only hold 10–20 grams (0.4–0.7 oz) of food and as small rodents weigh 15–30 grams (0.5–1 oz), Japanese weasels cannot eat more than one small rodent in a sitting. [11]
The least weasel is the product of a process begun 5–7 million years ago, when northern forests were replaced by open grassland, thus prompting an explosive evolution of small, burrowing rodents. The weasel's ancestors were larger than the current form, and underwent a reduction in size to exploit the new food source.
Rabbits can happily eat fennel bulbs and stalks. It has a naturally sweet, licorice-like taste that makes it so appealing. It is high in fiber as well as vitamin C-, potassium- and manganese-rich.
They typically eat about 100–120 grams (3.5–4.2 oz) of food daily, and cache excess food. [6] In urban areas in China, Siberian weasels prey extensively on rats. They are capable of killing and dragging the largest fowls. [7] Siberian weasels are active hunters and chase prey through snow, logs, water and people's houses. [3] [8]