The stoat, scientifically known as Mustela erminea, is a fascinating and versatile creature that belongs to the mustelid family. These small mammals are known for their sleek and slender appearance, marked by a long body, short legs, and a distinctive black-tipped tail.
Stoats are found in various habitats across the Northern Hemisphere, including moorlands, woodlands, farms, coastal areas, and mountainous regions. While they may appear unassuming due to their small size, stoats are skilled hunters, capable of taking down prey significantly larger than themselves.
In this compilation of 101 facts about stoats, we will delve into their physical characteristics, behaviors, reproductive patterns, dietary preferences, and much more. From their role as invasive species to their cunning hunting techniques, these facts will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of these remarkable creatures.
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or simply curious about the natural world, this collection of stoat facts is sure to pique your interest and shed light on the intriguing life of this small yet remarkable mammal.
General
- The stoat is a small-sized mammal, with males measuring 19–32 cm and females slightly smaller at 17–27 cm.
- Stoats belong to the mustelid family.
- Stoats are also known as short-tailed weasels.
- The stoat is nominated as one of the world’s 100 most invasive species.
- The stoat ranks as one of North America’s top 10 invasive mammals.
Physical Characteristics
- Stoats have a long, slender, cylindrical body and neck.
- They have short legs and long tails.
- The stoat is more prominent in size and weight than a weasel.
- Stoats weigh, on average, 200 to 445 grams.
- Male stoats are more significant than females.
- The stoat has a distinctive black tip to its tail.
- In winter, stoat fur becomes thicker and turns white, known as ermine.
Habitat and Range
- Stoats inhabit various habitats, including moorland, woodland, farms, coastal areas, and mountainous regions across the Northern Hemisphere.
- In North America, stoats are found throughout Canada and Alaska down south through most of the northern United States to central California.
Behavior and Diet
- Stoats are solitary animals.
- Stoats are carnivorous, primarily hunting other animals such as rodents, reptiles, and amphibians.
- Their favorite food is rabbits, and they’ve been known to immobilize prey like rabbits by dancing.
- Stoats have exceptionally sharp teeth, which can cause a nasty and painful bite.
- Young stoats are raised in the warmer months of May and June.
- Stoats delay the implantation of the fertilized egg in the wall of the uterus for 280 days.
- The pregnancy period for stoats is between 21 and 28 days.
- The young babies are weaned at five weeks.
- The average lifespan of a stoat is typically one and a half years, but they can live up to 7 years of age.
- Stoats are solitary except during the breeding season when they come together to mate.
Reproduction and Parenting
- The female stoat gives birth to between 5 and 15 babies.
- The mother stoat will do anything to protect their young.
- Some larger animals a stoat will hunt include foxes, dogs, cats, and snakes.
- The mother nurses the stoat babies until they are over a month old.
- The pups begin to learn to hunt.
- Stoats can kill their prey at 12 weeks.
- The pups are independent by the time they are three months of age.
Names and Groups
- Male stoats are called dogs, bucks, jacks, or hobs.
- Female stoats are called bitches, does, or jills.
- Baby stoats are known as kits.
- A group of stoats is called a caravan.
Fur and Camouflage
- Stoats have two types of fur, summer fur (chestnut brown) and winter fur (white ermine).
- The winter fur is dense, silky, and short.
- White fur covers the stoat in wintery conditions.
- The summer fur of a stoat is rougher, shorter, and sparse than the winter coat.
- Stoats are opportunistic killers and use their black-tipped tails to help them in hunting.
- Stoats can move at speeds of 20 miles per hour when hunting.
Adaptations and Senses
- Stoats have a good sense of sight, smell, and hearing, which they use for hunting.
- They are strong swimmers and can even cross wide rivers.
- Stoats are capable of climbing trees and may take young birds from nests.
- They make nests of grass and leaves in various locations, including hollow trunks, molehills, walls, banks, caves, and rock crevices.
Communication and Senses
- Stoat communication occurs mainly by scent, as they have a sensitive olfactory system.
- Stoats do not see color as well as humans but can see better at night.
- Stoats have a good sense of smell and hunt using scent.
- The stoat releases an overpowering musky smell from its anal glands.
- Stoats can spray a bad-smelling fluid when scared.
Hunting and Movement
- Stoats are one of the few animals able to follow burrowing mammals into their homes.
- Stoats are surprisingly multi-talented: they can run, swim, climb trees, and even dance.
- Stoats moved over to North America approximately 500,000 years ago.
- Stoats usually travel alone, except during mating season or when mothers have older offspring.
- Stoats can travel long distances quickly, up to 70 km in just two weeks.
- Stoats are intelligent and have been known to hypnotize prey with their dance and make rabbits forget to run away.
- Stoats are very suspicious of bait and traps and are challenging to catch.
Ecological Impact
- Stoats tend to occur in areas with lower temperatures and higher snowfall.
- A stoat can do a great deal of damage, killing many birds but only eating one.
- Stoats are usually silent animals but can produce a range of sounds.
- A kit produces a slight chirping noise.
- Adults trill before mating and show submission through quiet trilling, whining, and squealing noises.
Diet and Prey
- Stoats mainly hunt rats, mice, birds, rabbits, hares, possums, and insects.
- Stoats will eat lizards, freshwater crayfish, carrion, hedgehogs, and fish.
- Stoats are capable of swimming up to about .5 km.
- Stoats can be a nuisance due to the size of their families.
- A female stoat can produce up to 12 kits at a time but usually has 4-6 babies.
- Stoats can attack and defeat animals up to twenty times heavier than them.
Conservation and Use
- Stoats are not endangered animals but have been hunted and farmed for their fur.
- Stoats can be used to control rabbit populations.
- Stoats are long and thin with short legs, small ears, and thick warm fur.
- A stoat’s fur is brown but changes to white in the winter.
Physical Features
- Stoats are furry mammals with long, thin bodies.
- Stoats have a pointed snout.
- The stoat is on the IUCN red list as the least concern.
- Stoats have eyes that are black, round, and slightly protruding.
- Stoats like open landscapes and will avoid forests.
Habitat Preferences
- Stoats prefer sandy, dry areas such as hedgerows, fallow land, and dry ditches and embankments.
- Stoats communicate with each other by using hissing and singing sounds.
- Despite their small size, stoats can quickly eat five mice daily.
- Stoats are most active during sunrise and sunset.
- Stoats are very alert and good climbers and may take young birds from a nest.
- Stoats are strong swimmers and can cross wide rivers.
- Stoats make nests of grass and leaves in various locations.
Hunting and Predation Techniques
- Stoats are opportunistic killers, rushing and checking every available burrow or crevice for food.
- Stoats have a black tip to their tail in all seasons.
- Stoats have a good sense of sight, smell, and hearing, which they use to help them prey.
- Stoats can move at speeds of 20 miles per hour when hunting.
- Larger male stoats generally hunt larger prey than females.
- Stoats usually travel alone, except during mating season or when mothers have older offspring.
- Stoat communication occurs mainly by scent, as the stoat has a sensitive olfactory system.
Sensory Abilities
- Stoats do not see color as well as humans but can see better at night.
- Stoats have a good sense of smell, and they hunt using scent.
- The stoat releases an overpowering musky smell from its anal glands.
- Stoats can spray a bad-smelling fluid when they are scared.
- Stoats are one of the few animals able to follow burrowing mammals into their homes.
- Stoats are surprisingly multi-talented: they can run, swim, climb trees, and even dance.
- Stoats moved over to North America approximately 500,000 years ago.
- Stoats usually travel alone, except during mating season or when mothers have older offspring.
- Stoats can travel long distances very quickly, up to 70 km in just two weeks.
- Stoats are intelligent creatures, hypnotizing prey with dance and making rabbits forget to run away.
Do you know the differences between a stoat and a weasel? Find out more here.