A small, long-bodied hunter of Eurasia and the northern parts of North America. Its pure white winter coat is called ermine, a fur worn by monarchs and long used on the ceremonial robes of the UK House of Lords.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inEurope, Asia, North America, New Zealand
ColoursBrown, White, Black
SizeTiny
LengthMales 19–33 cm, females 17–27 cm (body)
WeightMales about 258 g, females under 180 g
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives alone
Lives for4–7 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Eurasia and northern North America; introduced to New Zealand.
- What it eats
- Mainly mouse-like rodents, plus larger rodents, rabbits, birds, lizards and insects.
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
Did you know
Turns white in winter, and that coat is the ermine used on royal robes.
Stoats were brought to New Zealand from Britain in the 1880s to control rabbits, and now threaten its native birds.
Males are roughly 25% larger than females.
Often confused with
- Weasel
Stoats and weasels are close relatives in the same genus; the least weasel is the smaller of the two.
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