# American Ermine

*Mustela richardsonii*

During winter, its fur turns completely white except for the black tip of its tail, which serves to distract airborne predators like hawks during an attack.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Mustelidae › Mustela
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Boreal forests, coniferous woodlands, brushy areas, and alpine meadows.
- **Diet:** Carnivorous; primarily hunts voles, mice, shrews, and occasionally young rabbits.
- **Range:** North America, Canada, Northern United States, Alaska
- **Size:** 17-33 cm in length, weighing 50-150 grams
- **Lifespan:** 1 to 2 years in the wild
- **Active:** crepuscular
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, loss of forest cover, and secondary poisoning from rodenticides.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans but highly defensive if cornered. Maintain a safe distance of at least 5 feet. Do not attempt to touch or corner them, as they have sharp teeth and can deliver a painful bite or release a musky odor. If bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice to prevent infection.

## About

The American ermine or short-tailed weasel ( Mustela richardsonii ) is a species of mustelid native to most of North America.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/6c71b112-85e9-4b4a-9a4a-5f7e25cfd79c
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1264427
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_ermine
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/162860275/medium.jpg (Christian Back, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.