Where does the stoat live?
The stoat lives in Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. Its range is circumpolar: from sea level up to 3,000 m. It uses the burrows of prey animals rather than digging its own. In the northern parts of its range, it grows a completely white coat in winter, save for the black tail tip. This very dense, silky winter fur is called ermine, like the animal.
What does the stoat eat?
Mouse-like rodents predominate in its diet, but it also eats larger prey such as rabbits, birds, fish, shrews and lemmings. It eats about 50 g of food a day, equivalent to 25% of its live weight. It is similar to the least weasel in proportions, though its tail is relatively longer, always exceeding a third of the body length, with a black tip year-round.
Is the stoat endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern, because of its wide circumpolar distribution. But in New Zealand, where it was introduced in the late 19th century to control rabbits, it has had a devastating effect on native bird populations: it was nominated as one of the world's top 100 "worst invaders".
