Wisconsin's Quick Change Artist

Today we are going to take a look at another of Wisconsins own native krittersthe weasel. Weasels are smaller-sized members of the same family that includes mink, martens, fishers, wolverines, badgers, river otters, black-footed ferrets, and even four species of skunks. Even though members of the weasel family vary in size and color, most have long, slender bodies, short legs, rounded ears, and anal scent glands which can really give off strong and often very repulsive odors (examplethe skunk).

A weasels hind legs are barely half as long as their body and their front legs are also quite short. These short legs on a long, slender body give weasels their own unique mode of running. Their long bodies looping upward, giving them an inch-worm-like locomotion. They typically jump with the hind feet landing almost perfectly right on top of the front foot imprints, but with the right front foot and hind feet just slightly behind.

Weasels are active in both the winter and summer months, and they do not hibernate. Weasels are mostly nocturnal during the winter but are out and about more in daylight hours during the summer months.

Probably the most unique characteristic of all that God gave the weasel is the fact that they are quick-change artists. By that I mean that their fur color literally changes from brown during the summer months to snow white in the winter, as a means of camouflage, both for their hunting and for their protection.

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