Lifestyle and Habits
Last Review/Updated: May 31, 2002
Members
of the weasel family are long-bodied, short-legged, agile predators
who hunt persistently and attack prey up to four times their size.
Wolverines have been known to bluff grizzly bear and cougar from their
kills, and even the short-tailed weasel may turn on a person if forced
to defend itself.
Weasels are usually active year-round and may hunt by day or night. In the past, weasels have been accused of killing more prey than they could possibly eat, but research has shown they commonly cache excess food for later use. Considering their fast-paced lifestyle, which may require weasels to eat the equivalent of 1/3 of their body weight in meat each day, such food caches do not last long.
In
some members of the family, mating occurs in the fall or early spring.
In other weasel species, the female is virtually pregnant throughout
her life. Soon after she gives birth to a litter in spring, she will
mate again. The embryo begins to develop, then stops growing until
late winter when development resumes. This phenomenon is called "delayed
implantation." It is rarely found among mammals.
The benefits of such delayed embryo development are related to food availability and the energy demands of the seasons. Mating and much of pregnancy occurs during the spring and summer months, when food is abundant and climatic conditions are favorable. Weasel "kits" are born early in the year so they are fully grown before entering the harsh winter months.
Another special characteristic of weasels is their anal glands which produce scent. Scent is used to mark the boundaries of their territories and may also indicate their reproductive state.
Weasel jaws are short and well muscled, thus increasing their strength. The jaws are designed to minimize slippage of anything in their grasp.
