Guess who is related

Can you imagine eating one third of your body weight in 24 hours? If you had the metabolism of a weasel it would be a pretty normal day. Weasels are carnivores, and can hunt prey as large a rabbit and store whatever food they do not finish in their burrows. There are three species of weasels in Canada: the least weasel, the short-tailed weasel, and the long-tailed weasel. The least weasel is not found in the Okanagan-Similkameen. Depending on winter conditions, weasels’ fur will change from brown to white for camouflage.

Weasels are in the family Mustelidae. Do you know another special Okanagan creature in this family? Badgers! Weasels and badgers are cousins! While weasels are not an at-risk species, badgers certainly are. For more information on badgers including the threats they face and how you can help, click here!

Long tailed weasel