Although they look similar - one way to tell the difference between a stoat and a weasel is that unlike stoats, weasels do not have a black tip to the tail.

Subspecies
Two.

Life span
Up to 3 years.

Statistics
Head and body length: 17-25cm, Weight: 48-107g.

Physical description
Weasels have a very slim, cylindrical body. There are two sub-species - the northern European pygmy or snow weasel, and the common weasel, found further south. In general, the body size is smaller in northern populations.

The fur is chestnut brown, with white fur below. Northern and eastern weasels turn white in winter, whilst southern European varieties stay brown.

Distribution
Common weasels are found in central and western Europe and the Mediterranean region (but not the Mediterranean islands). They also inhabit N. Africa, Asia and North America, and were introduced to New Zealand.

Habitat
Weasels will live almost anywhere that they can obtain cover and prey, including sand dunes, grassland, woodland and mountains.

Diet
Weasels mostly eat rodents, such as voles and mice, supplemented by birds or eggs in season. They must eat every 24 hours to avoid starvation. Weasels are active both day and night, alternating periods of activity with a few hours of rest.

Behaviour
They live in burrows taken over from their prey, such as under tree roots. They have a range of 1-25 hectares, and they scent mark their territory. Weasels are normally solitary, and there is no pair bond between adults, and no parental care by the male.

Reproduction
The young are born in April/May. Unlike stoats, there is no delayed implantation of the fertilised egg. The average litter is 4-6 kits and the young are weaned at four weeks, at which time their eyes open.

They can kill efficiently at eight weeks, and are sexually mature at 3-4 months. Very few live longer than two years in the wild. Weasels have sharp eyesight and excellent hearing.

Conservation status
Weasels are not considered to be rare. There have been occasional, largely unsuccessful, experiments to try and control the numbers of pest species, such as voles and rabbits, using introduced weasels.

Records
This species is the smallest carnivore.