Wildlifeof Bolivia
Long-tailed Weasel
Bears, Dogs & Otters
Photo: (c) John Krampl, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Neogale frenata
Basic stats
Habitat
Coniferous and deciduous forest, shrubland and wooded areas, from sea level to alpine meadow; absent from deserts and dry scrub
Range
From southern Canada through the United States, Mexico and Central America to central Bolivia, with records in Venezuela and along the Andes
Size
Tail 40–70% of head-and-body length; overall size estimates differ between sources
Weight
85–267g, with males about twice the weight of females
The long-tailed weasel is one of the larger weasels in North America. In summer it has brown upperparts and whitish underparts tinged with yellow or buff, and in northern winters the coat turns white, but the tail keeps its black tip. Its eyes are black by day but glow bright emerald green in a spotlight at night. Some animals in Florida and the south-west have pale facial markings (Wikipedia, general species account). It is easily confused with the stoat, a close relation, but the long-tailed weasel has a black tail tip, and its soles are naked in summer while the stoat's are furred all year (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is solitary and prefers to keep its distance from others of its kind. Its home range is about 10 to 20 hectares, with densities of about 1 per km2 and a maximum of about 7 per km2 (Wikipedia, general species account). It uses forest patches, fencerows and drainage ditches and avoids farmland, and it is thought to be sensitive to habitat fragmentation. It marks its territory by dragging and rubbing its body over surfaces rather than spraying, like a skunk (Wikipedia, general species account).
Bolivia marks the southern limit of the species' range in the account: the long-tailed weasel is recorded as far south as central Bolivia, and it extends into Venezuela and along the Andes (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Long-tailed Weasel live in?
- Coniferous and deciduous forest, shrubland and wooded areas, from sea level to alpine meadow; absent from deserts and dry scrub
- Where is the Long-tailed Weasel found?
- From southern Canada through the United States, Mexico and Central America to central Bolivia, with records in Venezuela and along the Andes
- How big is the Long-tailed Weasel?
- Tail 40–70% of head-and-body length; overall size estimates differ between sources
- How much does the Long-tailed Weasel weigh?
- 85–267g, with males about twice the weight of females