Stoat

Stoat

　　The stoat

　　The stoat, scientifically known as Mustela erminea, belongs to the family Mustelidae under the order Carnivora. It resembles the weasel (yellow weasel) in appearance, with a slender body, short limbs, and an adult male measuring 20 to 30 cm in body length, a tail of 9 to 12 cm, and a weight of about 2 kilograms. To adapt to its environment, the stoat’s fur changes color with the seasons: in summer, it is mostly greyish-brown, darker on the back and lighter on the belly, with greyish-white on the underbelly and milky white on the inner sides of the limbs; in winter, its fur turns snow white. The tip of the tail remains black year-round, making up about one-third of its length. The stoat’s fur is thick, soft, and fine, with a lightweight yet supple hide, making it highly valuable as a premium fur. Primarily preying on small rodents such as mice, the stoat has a large appetite and is beneficial to farmland and forests. Although it inhabits forested areas, the stoat lives in crevices and rocky outcrops, typically in solitude. Breeding occurs from late spring to early summer, mainly in May and June, with litters of 4 to 5 young. The stoat has keen hearing and vision, and is very agile. In winter, when it forages, it leaves tracks on the snow with its tail dragging behind, which is how it got the name “snow sweeper” (扫雪).