Mustela nivalis

Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae

Status: Unprotected predator.

Identifying Characteristics:  The smallest weasel and smallest carnivore in North America.  Similar to other weasels in color and body form.  Males are larger than females.  Fur is brown above and whitish below during summer.  Entirely white during winter.  No black tip at end of short tail  Total length: less than 10 inches.  Weight: 1 to 3 ounces.

Habitat: Variety of habitats, including meadows, fields, brushy areas, and open woods.  Avoids dense forest, prefers ecotones.  Abundance of small mammals is important in determining the local distribution of least weasels.

Food Habits: Feeds almost entirely on mice.  Small enough to pursue rodents into runways, burrows, and nest chambers.

 Life History: Most active at night.  With abundant food sometimes produces more than one litter per year.  Breeds year round; young born any time of the year; delayed implantation does not occur; litter size usually 4 to 5.

Similar Species: Much smaller than the short or long-tailed weasel.  both short and long-tailed weasels have black tip on tail.