Where the weasel lives and feeds. Weasel is the smallest and very cruel predator. Description and photo of the animal

Predators are different. Many believe that this order of mammals is limited to tigers, brown bears, wolves and other large creatures of the animal world. However, the world of carnivores also exists in a smaller version. Weasels, stoats, ferrets or martens are predatory animals in miniature.

With the onset of cold weather, many farmers are faced with the problem of attacks on chicken coops by petty robbers, and weasel attacks are especially common. How to get rid of weasels and protect your pets is a pressing problem and, fortunately, easily solvable.

These petty farmland thieves are excellent hunters and love flesh: the two distinctive molars in the jaw, designed for cutting meat, speak for themselves. Raiding a nearby chicken coop is a piece of cake for them. Moreover, the methods they choose are not the most humane: a ferret, for example, climbs into a poultry house under the cover of darkness and, despite its small size - only 50 cm in length, can easily strangle a chicken or even a goose. The raids of representatives of the mustelid family, to which these half-meter creatures belong, become more frequent with the onset of cold weather, but also in summer time year this problem is topical.

Before you protect your pets, you should compile a detailed dossier on a representative of this huge family. Mustelidae is a family very rich in various species, in the center of which is the European pine marten. Mink, grison, ferret, skunk, badger, wolverine, otter, weasel, ermine - this is not a complete list of these nimble and agile inhabitants of forests, fields and swamps. Russian farmers most often encounter weasel attacks.

Weasel: habits and body features

This representative of mustelids is characterized by:

• small in stature;
• short paws with 5 toes;
• elongated body;
• fine and thick hair;
• the ability to exist for a long period of time without personal housing;
• rapid adaptation to the proximity of a person and, ultimately, loss of fear of him.

Before choosing ways to fight a ruthless hunter, you should study its characteristics and habits. This cute animal proudly bears the title of the smallest mammalian predator:

• male body length: 16 - 26 cm;
• female body length: 11 - 21 cm;
• male weight: up to 250 g;
• female weight: up to 100 g;
• male tail length: up to 8 cm;
• female tail length: up to 6 cm.

Despite the gracefulness inherent in their build, their neck is quite massive. The muzzle is small, narrowed, and the ears, on the contrary, are so round that they do not point upward. Some zoologists note a slight identity with a snake: rapid movements, great mobility and the ability to overcome most geographical obstacles. With the onset of cold weather, the animal's fur thickens and changes its color from brown to white, which allows the predator to remain invisible in the snow. In the warm season, the brown color returns and the fur thins out. Sometimes weasels are mistakenly mistaken for ermine: the differences between these species are poorly identified, but they still exist.

Differences between weasel and ermine

Apart from the black tassel on the ermine's tail, each species has its own characteristic features.

The weasel, unlike the ermine, has a rather uneven distribution, which narrows its search area for prey. However, unlike the stoat, its small body size makes it more mobile and gives it superiority in tracking and catching forest trophies. On the other hand, fine texture determines a more intense energy exchange.

During a disadvantageous period in terms of food availability, the stoat demonstrates high adaptive abilities and is able to live comfortably with a small concentration of animals that it can catch. In taste preferences he is less whimsical compared to weasels. Bird, fish, insects - he can eat anything he can get his hands on, so you can’t call him a gourmet.

What is the danger of affection

In order to find the answer to the question of how to neutralize a weasel or a marten, for example, it is necessary to understand the degree of threat they pose.

This animal, like the ferret, belongs to the category of cruel and ferocious predators who love to feast on domestic animals. Why waste time and effort searching for food in the forest when you can sneak in and treat yourself to plenty of “free” food.

It is impossible to catch these cunning thieves on your own, without using improvised means. They are too fast, agile and maneuverable. Don't be fooled by their cute triangular faces: in a fit of hunger, they are capable of tearing their prey into small pieces. How can weasel be dangerous? : To satisfy her need for food, she is not limited to one bird. Her appetite is so great that after she finishes her meal, up to several dozen headless birds may remain in the house. However, she does not often commit such bloody massacres, preferring to make do with mice and rats, which are much easier to get. It is decided to take such dubious actions only if there is no more suitable food in the area.

If the animal is completely distraught from lack of food, it may even enter the house and attack a small cat or dog. The weasel's teeth are very sharp, which allows it to easily kill individuals larger than itself.

Signs of an uninvited guest

A weasel seen near a poultry house is a harbinger of the imminent death of pets. As she opens the hunting season, she displays skillful tracking tactics and excellent knowledge of camouflage. Considering the fact that, like a ferret, it is impossible to take it by surprise, you should prepare for defense.

When the first snow falls, it is quite easy to detect signs of uninvited guests. Animals leave specific two-point tracks: they move by jumping, after which characteristic marks appear on the snow surface. By the distance between the paw prints, you can calculate which particular species of mustelid was visiting:

• weasel - 20-30 cm;
• marten - 30-40 cm;
• ferret - 50-60 cm.

As practice shows, it is the ferret that causes greatest damage farmers, because compared to other family members, he is the most bloodthirsty and ruthless.

Methods for entering a chicken coop

It is not difficult to guess which path the little bandits choose for their bloody intervention. They use any available gap to enter the house. Cracks in the foundation, holes invisible to the eye - all this becomes a potential entrance to the chicken abode.

Due to its physiology and small size, even small openings become for them a door to gastronomic paradise. If the walls of the room do not contain holes, but have rotted under the influence of time and humidity, animals can easily gnaw through damp boards.

Since petty robbers have learned to use mouse holes as tunnels leading to a chicken coop, the solution to the problem of how to get rid of weasels in the yard , becomes as paramount as ensuring the safety of the poultry house itself. Even if there are no cracks or holes in the surrounding area, the weasel can penetrate through the ventilation system or, in extreme cases, make a dig on its own: the animal’s sharp fangs and claws allow this manipulation to be carried out in the shortest possible time.

For safety reasons, each square meter poultry house and, if necessary, patch all holes and cover the ventilation system with mesh. When designing a house for birds, you should take into account the fact that the foundation must be made thick in order to prevent animals from entering through holes.

How to catch a weasel: ways to catch small predators from a chicken coop

It is not so difficult to catch poultry house robbers: knowing their habits and preferences, you can weaken their onslaught. For centuries, farmers have been using traps and other traps to catch small predators.

Homemade devices

How to get rid of weasels - quite simple! To do this, you only need a few items that are always at hand.

Setting up a homemade weasel trap

It is important not to miss the moment when the animal falls into the trap in order to have time to fix the bucket lid in a timely manner. Otherwise, the animal can get out of it and all efforts are aimed at solving the problem: how can you catch and get rid of a weasel in a chicken coop? , will be in vain.

It does not matter how exactly the predator was captured, after capture it should be released away from its area.

Large mousetraps

The list of items that help in solving the question continues: what to do to prevent a weasel from getting into your chicken coop, a large mousetrap.

It is difficult to find an animal that would not find itself in a trap containing a delicious piece of meat. The Zürner rat trap is very popular among farmers.

You can buy it in a store: the average market price is 1,200 rubles, or you can make it yourself. The manufacturing process is quite simple and does not require large financial costs. It is a small but capacious box made of boards. The peculiarity of this trap is the bridges connecting 2 windows located parallel to each other. They form a solid corridor hanging in the air. Metal hooks with bait are installed above the cover of the device, located above the junction of the two bridges. The animal climbs onto the bridge in order to swallow the bait and falls inside the box.

Repellers

As a preventative measure, you can try to scare away the unwanted predator. An electronic repeller works well for this purpose and should be placed in the poultry house or in the area adjacent to it.

The device emits low-purity signals that provoke panic attacks in animals and a desire to get out of the area as quickly as possible.

As an alternative, you can install a light with a built-in motion sensor, which will respond to the approach of intruders with noise and sound warnings.

Traditional methods

Measures to protect yourself from a little robber can be quite simple. For example, effective means considered tar. Rural farmers believe that walls coated with this resinous product will emit a weasel-repellent odor. However, this method is rather dubious: the weasel can get into the chicken coop through the roof or dig a hole, thus not coming into contact with the walls.

Types of traps for fishing

To understand how to get rid of weasels, you should familiarize yourself with a centuries-old method: setting a trap.

Traps of this kind are a very effective means of pest control. They are in an affordable price category: depending on the modification, the cost ranges from 400 to 1000 rubles. The following types of trace traps are used, which are the most common group:

• plate;
• frame.

Basically, they are fixed on the path trodden by the predator. There are 3 types of plate type:

• with internal spring;
• with cross;
• without cross.

The most universal among them is a trap with a cross.

Frame traps are also found in several varieties: The base of such traps can be:

• oval;
• round;
• rectangular.

They are used in conditions where catching an animal is quite problematic.

At the moment when the animal falls into the trap, the springs firmly fix its neck and paws, preventing it from moving. To catch weasels, frame options are mainly used, since compared to plate options designed for larger animals, they are smaller and more effective.

Strengthening the chicken coop from predators

If you don’t have the time or desire to purchase products that will tell you how to get rid of weasels in the chicken coop , you should turn the poultry house into an impregnable fortress and cover up any cracks and holes. It is also necessary to acquire good security: a competent, trained dog will be an excellent guard, protecting against any attacks from predators. It is recommended to surround the poultry house and the walking area with flat slabs to prevent undermining. Make sure that the surrounding area is free of empty boxes and other objects that could provide cover for predators.

A dog is a good bird protector

If you take timely measures to protect and protect your pets, you can avoid significant losses of livestock and not face the need for contact with predatory representatives family of mustelids.

Video - Trap for ferrets, martens, weasels, rats

Domain: Eukaryotes

Kingdom: Animals

Type: Chordates

Class: Mammals

Squad: Predatory

Family: Kunya

Genus: Weasels and ferrets

View: Weasel

Habitat

The animal lives in Europe, North America, Mongolia, Egypt, Australia, Japan. That is, the animal can be found almost all over the globe.

The animal is able to live in various natural areas, except for deserts and snowy mountainous areas.

Weasels thrive in:

• tundra;
• on the banks of rivers and lakes;
• in steppe regions;
• in forest areas.

Sometimes she settles not far from people's homes.

The weasel animal is in no hurry to build its own house; it is easier for it to take over someone else’s hole. The weasel also creates a home in various natural gorges, under rocky layers or in human households. The inside of her house is covered with dried plants.

Description of weasel

Common weasel ( Mustela nivalis) is a member of the genus Weasels and ferrets, part of the mustelidae family, and is the smallest land predator. Males grow up to 16–26 cm with a weight of 50–250 g, females weigh from 30 to 110 g with a height of 11.5–21 cm.

Most of all, the weasel resembles the ermine and the solongoi, but differs from them in its smallness and specific details. Naturalists note its serpentine appearance, which is created thanks to a thin elongated body on short legs and reptile movements (when the weasel climbs among stones or dead wood). The resemblance to a snake is also emphasized by the long powerful neck (slightly thinner than the body), crowned with a narrow head with a small muzzle and rounded, widely set ears, barely protruding upward.

The weasel has dark, shiny eyes (as if slightly bulging) and a dull, barely forked nose. The tail is short (within 1.2–8.7 cm), matching the color of the back (unlike the ermine, which has a black tip). There's a secret hiding under the tail chemical weapon Weasels are glands that generate a liquid with an irritating odor.

The color of the coat differs in winter and summer. When it gets cold, the weasel turns completely white in the north and partially in the south. The fur is equally thick in winter and summer, but winter hair is longer and thicker than summer hair.

In summer, the animal displays a bicolor coloration with white underparts ( internal sides limbs and partly feet) and dark top (with variations brown shades, depending on the area). The color transition from top to bottom is sharp.

Habits of the beast

The weasel swims and climbs well, and is a very dexterous and agile animal. But what distinguishes her habits is her courage, bloodthirstiness and rudeness in attacks, which is why she can be found near human habitation, into which she seeps through very narrow holes and cracks. It goes hunting at dusk or at night, although it is active at any time of the day.

The weasel moves by jumping and leads a terrestrial lifestyle. Prefers to stick to artificial or natural cover and bushes. Avoids unprotected places. Covers two kilometers in a day. In winter it moves in snowy voids. Due to their small stature, weasels often die, crushed by large animals, but often they manage to gnaw the larynx of their own opponent. Males emit a loud squeal during clashes.

Weasels live territorially and lead a fairly secluded lifestyle. The size of their zones is very small and extends within 10 hectares, this depends on the abundance of food and weather conditions. Usually, the boundaries of the zone are marked by scent traces. From time to time, the females' areas overlap the males' areas.

This is a rather dangerous animal, but despite its size own body, there are no obstacles for her, because she perfectly climbs trees, jumps and swims. And at the same time, it benefits humans because it exterminates voles and mice.

This animal can be found on all continents of the planet. The weasel does not make burrows, it masters what it has, it makes its lair under stones in the middle of voids, in the roots of trees, in the middle of dead wood, in rock crevices, in wood stacks, in low-lying hollows, in mouse holes, in barns. The nest is lined with any dry vegetation, mosses, chestnut or fern leaves.

If its nest is disturbed or found by strangers, the weasel immediately leaves the nest and takes its own cubs to another place. In the event of an unexpected threat, the weasel will defend and defend its lair to the end, sacrificing itself. Several permanent dwellings can be built on the site.

What does a weasel eat?

The habitat of the weasel depends on the number of rodents needed for food. The diet includes small animals such as mice, moles, and bears. In spring it eats eggs and chicks. Since this animal swims well, it can catch a fish or a frog. It can also feed on lizards, snails, snakes, and insects. In general, the weasel is a very bloodthirsty animal and kills everyone it manages to catch. Due to its small size, it can overtake rodents in their own burrows.

By exterminating mice, the animal brings great benefit, which significantly outweighs the harm it causes to chicken coops. Sometimes a weasel can even fight off a kite.

Reproduction

The process of reproduction of offspring directly depends on the number of voles in the area of ​​residence. If there is enough food, then the female can bring children 3 times a year, sometimes 4. Moreover, the more satisfying life is, the more children in the brood, sometimes their number reaches 10. If there is a “hungry” year, then everything changes with precision on the contrary, the number of offspring is reduced, as is the number of pregnancies. Male weasel animals do not take any part in raising the younger generation. After mating with one female, the male moves on in search of new girlfriend. Before giving birth, the female drives a small animal out of her burrow, since she does not know how to dig herself, and arranges a nest. Pregnancy lasts no more than 35 days. The babies weigh no more than 1.5 grams and are born blind. After 3 or 4 months, the children become completely independent and leave their mother.

Enemies and meaning

The predator is not large in size, so it sometimes becomes prey for other animals: fox, sable, ermine, ferret and large birds of prey.

Competitors of weasels include all animals that feed on small rodents. Its significance is great; it feeds mainly on mouse-like rodents and simply destroys them in huge quantities. Some sources provide data that one animal can destroy from 2 to 3 thousand in a year. mice and voles.

Until the middle of the last century, weasels were caught during the hunting of fur-bearing animals, mainly by accident in traps set for small mustelids and moles.

What is the danger of affection

In order to find the answer to the question of how to neutralize a weasel or a marten, for example, it is necessary to understand the degree of threat they pose. This animal, like the ferret, belongs to the category of cruel and ferocious predators who love to feast on domestic animals. Why waste time and effort searching for food in the forest when you can sneak in and treat yourself to plenty of “free” food.

It is impossible to catch these cunning thieves on your own, without using improvised means. They are too fast, agile and maneuverable. Don't be fooled by their cute triangular faces: in a fit of hunger, they are capable of tearing their prey into small pieces. How can a weasel be dangerous: in order to satisfy its need for food, it is not limited to one bird. Her appetite is so great that after she finishes her meal, up to several dozen headless birds may remain in the house. However, she does not often commit such bloody massacres, preferring to make do with mice and rats, which are much easier to get. It is decided to take such dubious actions only if there is no more suitable food in the area.

If the animal is completely distraught from lack of food, it may even enter the house and attack a small cat or dog. The weasel's teeth are very sharp, which allows it to easily kill individuals larger than itself.

Animal at home

Since ancient times, the weasel animal has been kept at home. The tradition appeared in Ancient Rome, when the animal was tamed to catch mice. But after some time, rats appeared in the houses, which the weasel could not cope with, and cats took its place. IN modern world There are people who prefer exotic animals instead of traditional cats and dogs.

Weasels also fall into this category. But an animal can become a pet only under one condition - if it is raised from infancy. Such an animal quickly becomes attached to its owner, sleeps with him in the same bed and long separation even bored. Raising an adult animal is almost impossible. The animal has an aggressive character, it bites often and strongly, and will constantly try to escape.

You cannot treat an affectionate animal like a cat; the animal requires special treatment. The baby needs to be cherished and loved. The animal needs a home, but its freedom cannot be limited; it must be allowed to move around the apartment or house calmly.

His house should have driftwood and all kinds of heights and shelves so that the animal can climb. It is recommended to cover the bottom of a cage or other housing device with straw. With good upbringing, the animal will go to the toilet in a special tray. The animal must constantly have pure water. The diet will be more difficult; it should be as close to natural as possible.

It must be meat and fish, other seafood is allowed. Eggs are definitely included in the menu. But the animal eats very little, about 30-40 grams per day. Weasels are quite independent in the process of caring for themselves. With a varied menu, the owner will not have to care for the animal’s fur, but regular visits to the veterinarian are still recommended. The weasel animal can bathe on its own, but it is necessary to create suitable conditions for it. Even a bath of water is suitable for this. During the molting process, the creature should not be combed. Just remove excess hair with wet hands. When taking home a weasel, you should never forget that it is a predator, capricious and aggressive, although very small in size.

How to catch a weasel?

It is advisable to immediately arrive in time for the weasel, otherwise the predator may escape from such a trap. You can try to catch the predator using a dog catching net. But in this case it is necessary to have not only patience, but also dexterity. Before you get this animal at home, you need to remember that this predator has a cute appearance, but its character is impudent and nervous.

Folk beliefs about animals

IN folk beliefs Weasels are found to be related to reptiles - snakes, worms, frogs, moles and mice. Like a snake, the weasel was considered poisonous. IN different options In epics, weasels, lizards, and snakes play the same role: they poison the drink of the people who carried away their young. Even the breath of a weasel is poisonous: if it breathes on livestock, it will stop eating, and if it breathes on a person, it will cause swelling. Well, the frog and the witch, the weasel is capable of taking milk from cows, and by running under the cow, it spoils it, causing blood to appear in the milk.

Among the southern Slavs, it was believed that killing a weasel would inevitably entail the death of one of the domestic or livestock. According to legend, it was believed that the soul of the mistress was embodied in the affection. The idea of ​​the weasel as a guardian of home and livestock spread. In some places it is called house-elf, that she lives in every house, in the ground under the house, in the underground, under the threshold of the stable, in the stable - in the habitats of house spirits. Like the brownie, weasels can be seen by going to the barn with a lit candle in Maundy Thursday into the barn, and by its color determine what color the cattle should be kept. The presence of weasels in the barn promotes the reproduction of livestock of the same color as the weasel. Each cow had its own weasel - the patroness of the same color. It was believed that after a killed weasel, a cow of the same color would also die, so it was forbidden to cause any harm to the weasel, much less kill it.

In folk legends they say that a bride, cursed by her mother-in-law for being too lazy to spin yarn, was turned into a weasel. To protect against weasels, a spinning wheel with a spindle is taken out into the yard and placed near the hole.

Often in epics, some animals have female symbolism (weasel, marten, otter, squirrel, wolverine), while others have male symbolism (ermine, beavers, sables). This can be seen in song folklore, primarily in wedding folklore. The bride and groom are depicted as a sable and a marten, less often a beaver and an otter, a beaver and a fox. In the song texts there is a motif of hunting a marten or a squirrel, personifying the bride. In wedding sentences, the groomsmen call themselves hunters of martens and foxes, they say that they came to the bride’s house on the marten’s trail. In the old days, among the southern Slavs, weasel was often mentioned in love magic: To make the husband love his wife more, she cuts the caught weasel in half and tries to get the husband to pass between these halves.

• The weasel's favorite food is mice and voles, thanks to which, by hunting these pests, the weasel brings enormous benefits to humans.
• The weasel's hole can be found by all sorts of pieces of prey scattered near the entrance. Of course, first of all, these are the paws and tails of the animals she has eaten.
• In summer, the weasel's back is light brown and its belly is white. In winter in the north, the animal changes its fur coat to a snow-white one.
• The weasel's scent glands, located under its tail, secrete a secretion that smells the same as the secretion secreted by a ferret.
• Female weasels are so tiny that in the past they were even considered a separate species.

Video

Common weasel, or just weasel - small predatory animal(mustelidae family), found in Europe, North America and northern Asia. This fur-bearing animal lives in forests, on the outskirts of fields, along the banks of reservoirs, in swamps, in deserts and steppes. Sometimes it settles near human habitation, but considers the snowy belt of mountains and the polar desert unsuitable for habitation.

The body of the weasel is elongated, from 11 to 21 cm long. Its weight is no more than 100 grams, but this does not prevent it from having the reputation of one of the most bloodthirsty predators. The weasel has many enemies: foxes, wolves, raccoon dogs, badgers, hawks, golden eagles, eagle owls and owls - all of them are not averse to feasting on the nimble animal. But the toothy, agile beauty does not give up without a fight: she can easily gnaw the offender’s throat, deftly slipping out of his grip at the last moment.

The color of the weasel is similar to that of an ermine. In summer, the upperparts are brownish-brown, with dark spots near the corners of the mouth. The belly, inside paws and chest are snow-white. In winter, the body turns completely white. Only in the south, where there is little snow, the color of the animal’s fur does not change.

The weasel swims well, runs fast and climbs trees well. She needs all this to catch her favorite prey: shrews, mice, moles, young rabbits, snakes, lizards, crayfish, small fish, insects. It happens that she destroys bird nests and robs chicken coops. Hunts at night, moving quickly in the dark in long leaps.

It is interesting that having settled close to a person, the weasel will never cause damage to the “owner”, but the entire area suffers from its outrages. However, she also does not disdain domestic mice and rats, which helps people a lot.

In nature, weasels live in the burrows of rodents that they kill. He doesn’t dig his own, why if there are ready-made ones? The bottom of the hole is covered with dry grass, moss, and leaves.

In a dry, clean and spacious burrow, the female gives birth to four to eight cubs. She touchingly cares for her offspring and fiercely defends them in danger. At the age of 4 months, the babies are already independent, and their mother can start mating again. IN good year A female weasel has 2-3 broods.

Weasels and hori - features of care and maintenance at home.

Video: Weasel plays with hand

It is not clear where this name came from, because it is difficult to call Laska a gentle animal - although it is small, it is an agile and ferocious predator.

Weasel balances its modest size (body length hardly exceeds 25 cm) with unprecedented body flexibility, agility and speed.

What does Laska look like?

The Weasel's fur is a uniform reddish-brown color, only the neck and belly are painted white. With the onset of cold weather it grows new fur coat With long pile white- this is not only salvation from winter frosts, but also excellent camouflage, allowing Laska to be invisible against the backdrop of snowdrifts. This is where it came from Latin name Weasels - Mustela nivalis - which translates as " snowy".

Strong, short paws with sharp claws allow Weasel to climb trees well and tear apart mouse holes, but she has to move by jumping, arching her back high, and to look around, she has to stand on her hind legs and look out from behind the tall grass.

Where does Laska live?

Weasel does not have a permanent shelter; it uses secluded places to rest: rock crevices, spaces between roots and thickets of bushes; it rarely climbs trees.

Weasel widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found in forests and on open area among bushes, and in overgrown clearings, in the tundra, steppes, and alpine meadows.

What does Weasel eat?

Weasel is not at all whimsical in choosing habitats; the main condition for Weasel’s residence is an abundance of food: voles are the basis for a healthy Weasel food, although she can diversify her diet with gape birds, bird eggs, large rodents, lizards and frogs, fish, and even snakes and rabbits, Weasel does not disdain insects.

Weasel Habits

In ancient times it was believed that meeting with Laska brings misfortune and such a belief did not appear out of nowhere. The weasel is a curious and impudent animal, it is not at all afraid of people and can easily steal a piece of kebab or a catch caught while fishing - it will do this quickly, efficiently and unnoticed. Her tricks are so quick and sudden that you don’t even have time to get angry.
There was also the opposite opinion that Caress brings happiness and good luck. Weasel in a short period of time is capable of exterminating a large population of rodents that cause considerable harm agriculture- thus it brings invaluable benefits to humans.

Laski's Lifestyle

The weasel can be active at any time of the day, but prefers to hunt at night.
With the onset of evening twilight Weasel goes hunting, her long slender body allows her to easily get into mouse holes, and her sharp claws easily cope with larger game.
With quick and deft movements, Weasel explores its hunting grounds, running more than 1 km per day.

In the winter season, Weasel prefers to move in voids under thick snow, and if a lot of snow has fallen, it may not appear on the surface for a long time.
The weasel is a very prudent and thrifty animal; when it is well-fed, it stocks up, putting mouse carcasses in a secluded place - such a stash will be useful to her in times of famine.

The area of ​​Weasel's hunting area depends on the number of rodents that live on it: if there is enough food, Weasel can live on it for a long time. small area, and when there is less food, they move to places richer in food.

Each Weasel marks its territory a special odorous substance that is secreted by glands located under the tail. Weasels do not tolerate neighbors and when they meet each other they start a fight with squealing and showdown. Occasionally, the hunting grounds of a male and female may overlap along the perimeter

Reproduction of Weasels

The biorhythms of Weasels are closely related to the number of voles - the main food of Weasels: if there is a lot of food, then Weasels will produce offspring without interruption, 3-4 litters per year, and the number of puppies in a litter increases to 10 pieces, instead of the usual 4-5 puppies .
But if there is not enough food, then the number of puppies in the litter is reduced, and the number of pregnancies per year decreases.

Usually Weasel breeding season occurs at the end of spring, the male can run far beyond the boundaries of his territory in search of girlfriends. Having mated with one female, he goes in search of a new one, not participating in caring for the babies and completely avoiding paternal responsibilities.

Weasel's pregnancy lasts a little more than a month, 30-35 days.
Before the puppies are born, Weasel mother builds a cozy nest, which it arranges in a hollow, between the roots of trees, as well as in other people's holes, from which Laska drives the residents out. Weasel himself does not know how to dig holes. Weasel lines the floor and walls of the nest with dry grass, leaves, wool and moss - in such a nest children will be warm and safe, because they are born blind and helpless and weigh about 1.5 g.

For the first weeks of life, babies feed on mother's milk and remain in the nest. Only when they are fully strengthened do they begin to leave the nest and follow their mother, learn to eat adult food and acquire hunting skills.
3-4 months after birth, babies become completely independent from their mother and independent.

The weasel or common weasel (Mustela nivalis) is a member of the Mustelidae family, the genus Ferrets and weasels (Mustela). She is the smallest of all predators: the length of the male is 13-26 centimeters, and his weight is 40-250 grams

The weasel or common weasel (Mustela nivalis) is a member of the Mustelidae family, the genus Ferrets and weasels (Mustela). It is the smallest of all predators: the length of the male is 13-26 centimeters, and its weight is 40-250 grams. The female is even smaller.

From Latin, the name of the animal – nivalis – is translated as “snowy”: in winter, the weasel’s fur coat turns snow-white.

Weasel in winter color (molting).

Why was the weasel called weasel?

The bloodthirstiness of this small predator. Why was he given a name inappropriate for his character?

It turns out that these animals are easily tamed and turn into affectionate and loyal friends. They follow their owner like dogs.

Another version of the origin of the name is known. There is an ancient belief that witches who use women's charms to distract attention often turn into weasels.

Weasel habitat

Weasel is a common animal that can be found throughout Eurasia (it is not found only in Indochina), North Africa(except for the Arctic archipelago and southern deserts) and in northwestern Africa (in the Atlas Mountains). They also brought it to New Zealand.

You can meet weasel in almost all landscape areas. The animals inhabit forests and tundra, steppes and forest-steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, the banks of reservoirs and the outskirts of fields; in the mountains, their distribution reaches alpine meadows. She also lives in major cities. It is absent only in the polar desert and in mountain belts covered with snow.

Common weasel (Mustela nivalis). Photo by: Yersinia pestis.

The species is divided into several subspecies, differing greatly in size. The smallest weasels live in cold northern regions: in northern Europe, in Siberia, on Far East and in North America. The weasel's competitor, the ermine, lives in the same area. Therefore, the weasel hunts for the smallest mouse-like rodents and gets them in places inaccessible to the ermine. Larger subspecies inhabit hot, arid regions: the Mediterranean, Central and Western Asia. They hunt gerbils, jerboas and small ground squirrels - prey beyond the control of their small relatives. When there is a shortage of food, they can catch birds, young rabbits, amphibians, small fish, lizards, small snakes, insects. They often raid human homes and exterminate poultry - chickens, ducks and others. In such places, weasels are not liked and are often hunted.

The size of the predator's habitat does not exceed a hectare. These natural lands are enough for the weasel to feed on, as it is able to penetrate any hole and get prey from there.

Shelters for the animal are the homes of mice and moles, piles of brushwood and stones, stacks, wood buildings, and tree hollows.

Enemies of weasels

Like any animal, weasels also have enemies; they often become prey for birds of prey (owls and even bitterns); their family members, stoats, and also more, do not hesitate to hunt them. large predators– Arctic foxes, martens, sables, predators of the cat family.

A weasel fell prey to a great bittern (Botaurus stellaris). Photo by: Fausto Deseri.

Residents Ancient Rome and early medieval Europe used the weasel as a pet for hunting mice. But when Old light inhabited by large gray rats, which are difficult for small animals to cope with, weasels were replaced by ferrets and cats.

Feeding weasels with milk from a syringe. Photo by: Armando Caldas.

If you decide to get a pet, please note that babies are easier to tame, they will require careful care and you will have to tinker with feeding them. Therefore, in practice, adult animals are more often caught and gradually tamed. But in the process of taming, your hands will be bitten more than once. If you are willing to spend a lot of time adapting with the animal, then it will become a loyal and reliable friend.

Growing weasels at home from the very beginning early age. Photo by: Armando Caldas.

You will have to feed your pet fresh and high-quality meat and eggs. The animal must always have clean water.

The weasel will choose its own place to rest. She can take the place of another pet. In addition, she easily takes food from cats and dogs.

Common weasel (Mustela nivalis). Photo credit: Gary Mann.

Your weasel can cause a lot of problems if your neighbors have poultry. She will exterminate all these birds, turning your neighbor into fierce enemy. But if the bird lives with you, the weasel will not touch it, since it does not hunt where it lives.

Buy weasel

If you still haven’t changed your mind about having a weasel in your home, then you will be faced with the question: “Where to buy a weasel?” Unfortunately, weasels are very rarely on sale. You will have to catch the animal yourself or find the right person.

Chub Natalya, Kirill Usanov