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Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata)
Date of admission: June 7, 2026.
Reason for admission: Orphaned.
Patient History:
The Long-tailed Weasel is found throughout southern Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and into northern South America. This adaptable predator has inhabited North America for nearly 2 million years, where the species first evolved.
Long-tailed weasels have slender, agile bodies with bushy tails that make up nearly half their total length. Males are noticeably larger than females. They are recognized by their narrow heads, long whiskers, short legs, cinnamon-brown fur, and pale yellowish-white underbellies. In northern regions, their coats turn white during the winter to blend in with snowy landscapes, while populations farther south remain brown year-round.
Although they may look adorable, long-tailed weasels are fearless and highly efficient predators. They are solitary and territorial, with males and females living separately except during the breeding season. Their diet consists primarily of rodents, but they will also hunt birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, and occasionally eat fruit. Their incredibly high metabolism requires them to consume up to 40% of their body weight each day, and they will often cache food for later. When threatened or disturbed, they are surprisingly vocal and will fiercely defend their territory.
Long-tailed weasels breed during the summer months, with males mating with multiple females. However, thanks to a reproductive strategy known as delayed implantation, the embryos do not begin developing until several months later, resulting in pups being born the following spring. Litters average around six pups, which are born blind, nearly hairless, and completely dependent on their mother. They are weaned at approximately five weeks of age and begin hunting independently by about eight weeks.
This young Long-tailed Weasel was found orphaned outside a Canadian Tire store in Calgary and arrived at AIWC at just 2½ weeks of age. At this stage, young weasels require around-the-clock specialized care, including frequent formula feedings and careful monitoring, as they are still completely dependent on their mother. Fortunately, she arrived in good condition, weighing approximately 49 grams. She has continued to grow and develop well in rehabilitation and will remain in our care until she is old enough to survive independently in the wild.