Weasel Sightings!

Recently, there have been more and more sightings of animals around Southern California that have been identified as ferrets. If you happen to see a creature that definitely looks like weasel, but doesn't look like the roly poly ferrets that you adore, then you have probably seen a Long-tailed Weasel. The Long-tailed Weasel is indigenous to all of North America, and Central America. This is not a tame animal, nor is safe to try to raise as a pet.

How do I know if that cute creature is a ferret, or a long-tailed weasel?

Long tailed weasels, have a long slender body, similar to ferrets but much more muscular. Males are typically larger than females. These weasels have long, bushy tails that are about 50% of their total body length with a black tip. Long-tailed weasels have a small, narrow head with long whiskers. They also have short legs. They are cinnamon brown in color with white under parts that have a yellow tinge. Twice a year these weasels shed their fur, once in the spring and again in the fall. This process is controlled by photoperiod. The coat of animals in northern populations is white in the winter and brown in the summer, while those in southern populations are brown all the time.

Should I attempt to "rescue" a long-tailed weasel?

Many long-tailed weasels die before reaching one year of age due to living in the wild, and having to deal with natural predators. However, if they are lucky enough to reach adulthood they may live for several years. The lifespan of long-tailed weasels in the wild is not known. Never attempt to catch a wild animal. You may be doing the animal more harm than good by trying to "save" the animal. If you have any doubt as to what the animal is, please take a digital photo of the animal and Email it to us along with your phone number. If the animal is a domestic ferret, we will do everything possible to help rescue it.

Photos of Wild, Long-tailed Weasels: