Size: <\/p>\n\n\n
8-10″ long. 5-8 ounces <\/p>\n\n\n
Signs of their presence: <\/p>\n\n\n
Seeing the animal <\/p>\n\n\n
Sounds: Loud chirping sounds or low trilling sounds, like a whistle <\/p>\n\n\n
Scat: thin and long pellets. The pellets will look twisted at each end <\/p>\n\n\n
Odor: An odor similar to the skunk but not as strong <\/p>\n\n\n
Diet: <\/p>\n\n\n
Carnivores. Weasels will mainly eat small rodents and rabbits. They\u2019ll also eat insects, worms, snakes and frogs. They are also known to raid bird nests and eat birds. <\/p>\n\n\n
Typical activity patterns: <\/p>\n\n\n
Social style: Solitary excluding breeding season. <\/p>\n\n\n
Daily activity: Mainly nocturnal, however they are active during the day <\/p>\n\n\n
Hibernator? No <\/p>\n\n\n
Migrates? No <\/p>\n\n\n
Where found: <\/p>\n\n\n
In New Mexico weasels can be found throughout the state, mainly in wooded or rocky areas. <\/p>\n\n\n
Habitat: Prefer rocky or wooded areas that are not dense, open woodland. They can be found in crop fields and small wooded areas. They typically den in hollow logs, rock piles, or abandon buildings such as barns. <\/p>\n\n\n
Territory and home range: Male weasel\u2019s territory will overlap with female territories but never with other male territories. They will become aggressive and attack any male intruders that come into their home range. Some weasels territories can be up to 40 acres. <\/p>\n\n\n
Breeding habits: <\/p>\n\n\n
Pair bonding style: Polygamous. Males do not help raise the young <\/p>\n\n\n
Breeding Dates: July-August. Gestation takes around 7 months, due to delayed implantation. <\/p>\n\n\n
Litter Size: 6-9 young on average. Sometimes up to 12 young <\/p>\n\n\n
Birthing Period: March or early April <\/p>\n\n\n
Weaning Dates: around 36 days <\/p>\n\n\n
Amount of time young remain with parent beyond weaning date: another month and a half. The young leave when they are around two months old <\/p>\n\n\n
Common nuisance situations: <\/p>\n\n\n
Time of year: Any time of year. <\/p>\n\n\n
What are they doing? <\/p>\n\n\n
They get into poultry houses and kill the birds <\/p>\n\n\n
Killing pet rabbits or hamsters <\/p>\n\n\n
Legal status in New Mexico: <\/p>\n\n\n
Protected. Weasels are a protected furbearing species that may be taken during the open season <\/p>\n\n\n
Best practices <\/p>\n\n\n
Exclude them from poultry houses:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n Close off any holes that are 1\u201d or greater. Use \u00bd” mesh cloth. Or wire mesh to cover the holes <\/p>\n\n\n Secure the doors at night <\/p>\n\n\n Startle<\/strong> the weasel:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n Set up a motion activated sprinkler. Set it up where the weasel is gaining access to the vulnerable area such as a hole in the fence or entryway into a barn <\/p>\n\n\n Remove Cover:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n Do not stack wood against the barn or house <\/p>\n\n\n Mow often <\/p>\n\n\n Remove low hanging branches on brush and shrubs <\/p>\n\n\n Keep the weeds and grass around poultry houses and rabbit pens well trimmed <\/p>\n\n\n Remove rock and brush piles from the yard <\/p>\n\n\n Remove artificial food sources:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n Properly dispose of livestock carcasses <\/p>\n\n\n Secure garbage with tight fitting lid <\/p>\n\n\n Keep Weasels from Denning in barns:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n Close doors when not using <\/p>\n\n\n Put wire mesh over holes to prevent entry <\/p>\n\n\n Trapping:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n Weasels are curious animals and can be trapped relatively easily <\/p>\n\n\n Trapping strategies: <\/p>\n\n\n Live Capture:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n If a weasel is in your house using a small cage trap is best <\/p>\n\n\n Set the trap near the wall or areas of cover <\/p>\n\n\n Bait the trap with fresh meat <\/p>\n\n\n Lethal:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n Rat traps, only use larger snap traps as mouse traps will not kill weasels <\/p>\n\n\n Preferred killing methods: <\/p>\n\n\n CO2 chamber <\/p>\n\n\n Shooting, using a shotgun or a .22 caliber rifle <\/p>\n\n\n Acceptable killing methods: <\/p>\n\n\n Stunning and chest compression <\/p>\n\n\n Control strategies that don\u2019t work particularly well or aren\u2019t legal in New Mexico: <\/p>\n\n\n Collect dog or cat hair and spread it around the area weasels frequent <\/p>\n\n\n Sprinkle red pepper flakes around the perimeter of the area you are trying to keep the weasels out of. The flakes will irritate any soft tissue it comes into contact with <\/p>\n\n\n Noisemakers may startle the weasel but won\u2019t drive them off <\/p>\n\n\n For information on pesticides follow the link, https:\/\/www.nmda.nmsu.edu\/nmda-homepage\/divisions\/aes\/pesticides\/<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Size: 8-10″ long. 5-8 ounces Signs of their presence: Seeing the animal Sounds: Loud chirping sounds or low trilling sounds, … Continue reading Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata)<\/span>