Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
January 1994
Abstract
Weasels (Mustela nivalis and M. erminea) belong to the Mustelidae family, which also includes mink, martens, fishers, wolverines, badgers, river otters, black-footed ferrets, and four species of skunks. Three species of weasels live in North America. Some authors report finding weasels only in places with abundant water, although small rodents, suitable as food, were more abundant in surrounding habitat. The weasel family belongs to the order Carnivora. Weasels are active in both winter and summer; they do not hibernate. Occasionally weasels raid poultry houses at night and kill or injure domestic fowl.