25.10.2019

Weasel care and maintenance. Interesting facts about weasel: photo and description of the animal. Basic data and description

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Domain: Eukaryotes

Kingdom: Animals

Type: Chordates

Class: Mammals

Detachment: Predatory

Family: Kuni

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 deserts and snowy mountainous areas.

Weasels feel great in:

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

Sometimes she settles near the dwellings of people.

The weasel animal is in no hurry to build its own house, it is easier for her to win back someone's hole. Weasel also creates a dwelling in various natural gorges, under rocky layers or in the human economy. Inside her house is covered with dry plants.

Description of weasel

The common weasel (Mustela nivalis) is a genus of weasels and ferrets, part of the mustelid family, and is the smallest terrestrial carnivore. 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, weasel resembles ermine and solongoy, but differs from them in 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 deadwood). The resemblance to a snake is also emphasized by a long, powerful neck (slightly thinner than the body), crowned with a narrow head with a small muzzle and round, wide-set ears, barely protruding upward.

The weasel has dark, shining eyes (as if slightly protruding) and a blunt, barely forked nose. The tail is short (within 1.2–8.7 cm), matching in color with the color of the back (unlike the ermine, which has a black tip). Under the tail hides a secret chemical weapon weasels are glands that generate a liquid with an irritating odor.

The color of the coat in winter and summer varies. By cold weather, the weasel turns completely white in the north and partially in the south. Fur is equally dense in winter and summer, but winter hair is longer and thicker than summer.

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

The habits of the beast

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

Weasel moves by jumping, leads a terrestrial lifestyle. Prefers to stick to artificial or natural covers and bushes. Avoids an unprotected place. Covers two kilometers in a day. In winter, it moves in snow voids. Due to their own small stature, weasels often die, crushed by large animals, but often they manage to gnaw through the larynx of their own opponent. Males at the time of skirmishes emit a sonorous squeal.

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

This is a rather dangerous animal, but, despite the size own body, there are no obstacles for her, because she climbs trees perfectly, jumps and swims. And along with that, it benefits a person, because it exterminates voles and mice.

This animal can be found on all continents of the planet. Weasel does not make holes, masters what is, equips his lair under stones in the middle of voids, in tree roots, in the middle of deadwood, in rock crevices, in wood masonry, in low-lying hollows, in mouse holes, in barns. The nest is lined with any dry vegetation, mosses, chestnut or fern leaves.

If her nest is disturbed or found by outsiders, the weasel leaves the nest here, and transfers her own cubs to another place. In case of an unexpected threat, the weasel will defend and defend its lair to the end, sacrificing itself. On the site can equip several permanent dwellings.

What does 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, 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 holes.

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

reproduction

The process of reproduction of offspring directly depends on the number of mice-voles in the territory of residence. If there is enough food, then the female can bring children 3 times a year, sometimes 4. Moreover, the more satisfying life, the more children in the brood, sometimes their number reaches 10. If there is a “hungry” year, then everything changes with accuracy on the contrary, the number of offspring is reduced, as is the number of pregnancies. Male weasel animals do not take any part in the upbringing of the younger generation. After mating with one female, the male goes further in search of new girlfriend. Before giving birth, the female drives out a medium-sized animal from her mink, since she does not know how to dig herself, and equips the nest. Pregnancy lasts no more than 35 days. The weight of babies does not exceed 1.5 grams, they 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, therefore it sometimes becomes the prey of other animals: foxes, sable, ermine, ferret and large birds of prey.

Competitors of affection include all animals that feed on small rodents. Its value is great, feeding mainly on mouse-like rodents, destroying them simply in huge quantities. Some sources provide data that one animal can destroy from 2 to 3 thousand per year. mice and voles.

Until the middle of the last century, weasel was obtained during the hunting of fur-bearing animals, mostly by chance in traps placed on 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 energy looking for food in the forest when you can sneak around and treat yourself to plenty of “free” food.

It is impossible to catch these cunning thieves on your own, without the use of improvised means. They are too fast, agile and maneuverable. Do not be deceived by their cute triangular faces: in a fit of hunger, they are able to tear their prey into small pieces. What kind of caress can 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 can remain in the house. However, she does not often commit such carnage, preferring to make do with mice and rats, which are much easier to get. He decides on 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. Weasel teeth are very sharp, which allows her to easily kill individuals larger than herself.

Animal at home

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

Weasel also fell into the category of such. But the animal can become domestic 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 nature of the animal is aggressive, it bites often and strongly, it will constantly make attempts to escape.

It is impossible to treat an animal affection like a cat, the animal requires a special attitude towards itself. The baby needs to be cherished and loved. The animal needs a house, but it is impossible to restrict freedom, it must be allowed to move freely around the apartment or house.

In his house there should be snags and all kinds of hills, shelves so that the animal can climb. It is recommended that the bottom of the cage or other housing device be covered with straw. With high-quality education, the animal will go to the toilet in a special tray. The animal must always have pure water. It will be more difficult with the diet, it should be as close to natural as possible.

It should be meat and fish, other seafood is allowed. Eggs are definitely on the menu. But the animal eats very little, about 30-40 grams per day. Weasel is quite independent in the process of caring for herself. With a varied menu, the owner does not have to take care of the animal's coat, but regular visits to the veterinarian are still recommended. An animal weasel can bathe on its own, it is only necessary to create suitable conditions for it. Even a bath with water is suitable for this. In the process of molting, the creature should not be combed out. Remove excess hair with wet hands. Taking caress home, one should never forget that this is a predator, capricious and aggressive, albeit quite small in size.

How to catch affection?

It is advisable to immediately arrive in time for affection, otherwise the predator can get out of such a trap. You can try to catch a predator using a dog net. But in this case, it is necessary to have not only patience, but also dexterity. Before you start this animal at home, you must remember that this predator has a cute appearance, but his character is bold and nervous.

Folk beliefs about animals

IN folk beliefs the relationship of affection with reptiles is revealed - snakes, worms, frogs, moles and mice. Like a snake, weasels were considered poisonous. IN different options epics in the same role are weasel, lizard, snakes: they poison the drink of people who carried away their cubs. Even the breath of affection is poisonous: if it dies on cattle, it will stop eating, and if on a person, then he will have swelling. Like a frog and a witch, a weasel is able to take milk from cows, and running under a cow spoils it, which causes blood to appear in the milk.

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

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

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

The favorite food of the weasel is mice and voles, thanks to which, by hunting these pests, weasel brings tremendous benefits to humans.
A weasel hole can be found on 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 ate.
In summer, the back of the weasel is light brown, the belly is white. In winter in the north, the animal changes its fur coat to snow-white.
From the odorous glands of the weasel, located under the tail, a secret is secreted that smells the same as the secret secreted by the ferret.
Female weasels are so tiny that in the past they were even considered a separate species.

Video

Weasel ordinary, or just weasel - small predatory animal(family mustelids), found in Europe, North America and northern Asia. This furry 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 not more than 100 grams, but this does not prevent it from having the glory of one of the most bloodthirsty predators. The weasel has many enemies: foxes, wolves, raccoon dogs, badgers, hawks, golden eagles, owls and owls - all of them are not averse to eating a nimble animal. But the toothy agile beauty does not give up without a fight: she can easily gnaw through the throat of the offender, deftly slipping out of his grip at the last moment.

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

Weasel is an excellent swimmer, runs fast and climbs trees beautifully. She needs all this to overtake her favorite prey: shrews, mice, moles, young rabbits, snakes, lizards, crayfish, small fish, insects. It happens that she destroys the nests of birds and robs in chicken coops. It hunts at night, moving quickly in the dark with long jumps.

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

In nature, the weasel lives in the burrows of the rodents killed by it. He doesn’t dig his own, why, if there are ready ones? The bottom of the burrow is covered with dry grass, moss, leaves.

In a dry, clean and spacious burrow, the female brings from 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 is played with a hand

Weasel belongs to the weasel family. It lives in Europe, including the Scandinavian Peninsula, in Siberia, Mongolia, northeastern regions of China, on Far East, in Japan, North America up to Alaska. The animal lives in both mountainous and lowland areas, is found in forests and fields. It can settle in hollows of trees, under stones, in burrows, in outbuildings of people. This species is considered the smallest predator in the order of carnivores.

The body of the animal is thin, elongated and extremely flexible. The eyes are large and protruding. The limbs are short. The tail in length reaches 30% of the body length. At its base there are glands that produce a sharp and unpleasant odor. Paws from below are covered with hair and have dark sharp claws. The fur is thick, dense and short. In animals living in the northern regions, it is soft and silky. But their southern counterparts are rougher.

Fur color in summer period varies from dark chocolate to sandy. Throat, chest and belly white color. The paws on the inside have the same color. IN winter period fur color changes to white. IN rare case it is slightly diluted with dark hairs. The size of the animals varies depending on the regions of habitat. Males are noticeably larger than females. The length of males is 13-26 cm. Females reach a length of 11-20 cm. The weight of males reaches a maximum of 250 grams, in females it does not exceed 120 grams.

Reproduction and lifespan

Pregnancy lasts 35-37 days. Cubs are born in April-July. There are an average of 6 newborns in a litter. They are naked, blind and deaf. Already on the 4th day they are overgrown with fluffy white wool. The lactation period lasts 3 weeks. Only the female takes care of the offspring. At the 3rd month, babies become independent. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 4 months. But males begin to mate only in the 2nd year of life. IN wild nature weasel lives no more than 9 years. There is an opinion that the maximum life expectancy is 30 years.

Behavior and nutrition

These animals are territorial. The territory of the male is adjacent to several territories of the females. Representatives of the species do not dig their holes. They usually nest in mole burrows. They make chambers in them for rest, the birth of offspring and the storage of food supplies. The animal is agile, fast and courageous. He is a great tree climber, swims and runs well. Moves on the ground by jumping. The length of the jump reaches 35 cm.

For small rodents, weasels pose a serious threat. These are moles, mice, rabbits, hamsters. Representatives of the species attack birds, frogs, snakes, and lizards. The diet also includes insects. Hunting is carried out both during the day and at night. Medium daily rate food is 35 grams. Exterminating rodents, the animal brings undoubted benefits to people. At the same time, he likes to visit chicken coops, which the owners do not like. But, in any case, the benefits of this species are greater than the harm.

Weasel is a bloodthirsty and aggressive animal that commits robberies in private households of the population. It is surprising that nature endowed this bloodthirsty animal with such a name as weasel, and he himself is a cute and tiny creature. The length of her body reaches approximately 16 cm to 18 cm.

Description of weasel
Weasel has a thin, long, quirky and flexible body. She is one of the small animals from the squad of predators. Outwardly, the husky looks like an ermine, reminiscent of its fur color and body structure. The differences between them will be that the weasel is much smaller, a short tail of the same color, its length reaches up to 9 cm without a dark brush. At the base of the tail are special glands that secrete a secret with a sharp, disgusting odor.

Weasels have small paws, they are armed with very sharp claws. Her ears are small and rounded, her head is oblong in shape. Weasel nose, slightly forked and blunt at the end. The neck is powerful and long. The eyes are dark, large, slightly protruding. Outwardly, females do not differ from males, only in the size of their body, it is 30% smaller. The length of the weasel's body ranges from 11.4 cm to 21.6 cm. Body weight is from 40 grams to 100 grams.

The animal's fur is tight and short. The color depends on the season. Weasel has a white color in winter, and in summer the throat, chest, belly, edge of the upper lip remain white, inner part paws, a brownish-brown color is present on the sides, in the upper part of the head, on the back, on the tail and on the outer side of the paws. According to the density of the fur, the fur coat of the weasel is the same in winter, and in the summer during the warm season, the hair of the weasel is thinner and shorter than in winter. In the southern habitats, the weasel does not change color, it remains mostly brown.

The habits of the animal
Weasel swims well, climbs, it is a very dexterous and agile animal. But what distinguishes her habits is her courage, bloodthirstiness and audacity in attacks, so she can be found near human dwellings, into which she penetrates through very narrow holes, cracks. It hunts at dusk or at night, although it is active at any time of the day.

Weasel moves by jumping, leads a terrestrial lifestyle. Prefers to stick to man-made or natural covers and bushes. Avoids unprotected space. Covers two kilometers per day. In winter, it moves in snow voids. Due to their small stature, weasels often die, crushed by large animals, but often they manage to gnaw through the throat of their opponent. Males at the time of fights emit a loud squeal.

Weasels live territorially and lead a rather secluded lifestyle. The size of their zones is very small and extends within 10 hectares, it depends on the abundance of food and weather conditions. As a rule, the boundaries of the zone are marked by odor traces. Sometimes the areas of females overlap those of males.

This is a rather dangerous animal, but, despite the size of its body, there are no barriers for it, because it climbs trees perfectly, jumps and swims. And at the same time, it benefits a person, as it exterminates voles and mice.

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

If her nest is disturbed or discovered by outsiders, the weasel immediately leaves the nest, and transfers her cubs to another place. In case of sudden danger, the weasel will defend and defend its lair to the end, sacrificing itself. Several permanent dwellings can be built on the site.

Nutrition
The weasel's diet consists of small mouse rodents, these include mice - field, house, forest, rats, moles and shrews. She does not bypass her attention to chickens, partridges, young rabbits, chickens, pigeons, chicks. Not averse to eating any eggs, she makes several holes in them and thus sucks out all the contents. When food is scarce, it eats all kinds of amphibians, small fish, lizards, vipers. As well as copperheads, snakes, small snakes, large insects, crayfish.

Despite the fact that the weasel is a robber and a predator, it can attack a small animal, its need for food is 40 grams per day. By exterminating rodents, the weasel does not allow them to multiply, regulates the number on its territory, which helps a person. In one place she stocks, often you can find from one to 30 voles and mice in it.

And hello again, dear readers of the site "Me and the World"! If you have seen a weasel (animal), photo and description, then you know that these are quite small, but very cute animals. Although despite their cute appearance, they are predatory and dangerous to all small animals. From our article you will learn: what a weasel looks like, what it eats, where it lives, what or whom it is afraid of.

In appearance this baby has her own characteristics: a long, flexible, but such a dodgy body that if you grab her, she will slip out of your hands like an eel, and even at the same time she can bite. Can be easily confused with a stoat, but the weasel is smaller and the tail is shorter and more solid, without the black tassel. And with a terribly unpleasant odor secreted from the glands at the base of the tail.

The ermine is one animal found in the taiga, and the weasel is another, albeit very similar. They even traces can be difficult to distinguish, but the ermine a little larger size paws.

The fur is short, but warm, and the color depends on the season. In winter, the weasel is white, and in the summer it becomes brown, but they still remain white inner side paws, belly, chest and neck.

The body size of the animal reaches only 14-20 cm and weighs from 50 to 150 grams. All small animals are afraid of this little predator, because her diet consists of mice, rats, moles; small rabbits and birds; from snakes snakes, copperheads, and sometimes vipers; lizards, frogs; various insects. She brings the au pair great harm destroying poultry.

Along with ferrets, she loves to eat chickens, and especially chickens. Destroying so many animals, it turns out that the weasel needs only up to 40 grams per day. food. She tries to stock up, sometimes you can find up to 30 dead voles in one place. This is the way weasels feed, in a word - predators.

Animals live in mixed forests, in the tundra, in fields, in mountainous areas and even near people. In the world live in countries such as Europe, North Asia and America. He does not build his own dwellings, but prefers to take a fancy to what has already been done: other people's minks, hollows (up to 2 m from the ground), crevices in the rocks, in sheds next to a person's house. The house is lined with dry grass, moss, fern leaves. If she only feels that she is in danger, she immediately leaves the nest, especially if there are cubs in it.

What else is interesting little weasel? Being very agile, she reacts to extraneous movement and immediately hides in a mink or attacks if it is a small rodent. Sometimes it funny gets up on its hind legs and vigilantly looks around the surroundings. If you approach a wild weasel, it will immediately rush at you and get rid of sharp and tenacious teeth is very difficult. Is it dangerous for humans? After what has been said, you can answer that yes, if you show aggression on your part.

But in Lately the animal is often kept at home. An interesting fact - despite the wild, freedom-loving disposition, affection is quite easy to tame to a person, but only in early age. For children, the animal will become a great friend, unless, of course, you mock the animal.

Weasel cannot be bought in any specialized store; you need to find people who breed these particular animals. What is the price? Adults from 10 to 20,000 rubles, and cubs from 9,000. But, as we said, it’s better to get a baby. According to the reviews of those who live with animals, it is really better to tame them to a person “from the cradle”, and adults are very aggressive and biting.

The animal shelter (Barnaul) with the same name "Weasel" contains many beautiful and different animals: they are well-groomed, kind and will suit any good owner.