Long-tailed Weasel

Mustela frenata

These slim little predators hunt a variety of prey, from rabbits and chickens to mice and frogs. If any animal can be called bloodthirsty, the weasel may qualify because it kills its victim by biting into the base of the head and drinking the blood. Weasels often kill far more than they can eat. If they manage to gain entry to a hen house or a pigeon coop, they go wild.

Look For : A long, slim, very active animal with short legs and a long black-tipped tail. Usually brown in summer, white in winter.

Length : Body 8-16" long, tail 3-6" long; 3-9 oz.

Habitat : Forests, fields, and brushy areas.

Range : Southern British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan south through most of U.S. except much of Southwest.