The Siberian weasel is a bright orange-brown weasel with a dark face mask that lives across much of Asia, including Siberia, China, Korea, Taiwan, and the Himalayas. It does not live in the wild in the US. Its fur has been sold as "Tartar sable," and its hair goes into fine artists' brushes. It is also called the kolonok.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Males are 11–15 in (28–39 cm) long plus a 6–8 in (15.5–21 cm) tail and weigh 1.4–1.8 lb (650–820 g); females are noticeably smaller. The coat is reddish orange to straw-colored, paler below, with a dark brown mask and white lips and chin.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Forests
- Open country
- Villages
- Range
- Found from the Ural Mountains across Siberia to the Russian Far East, and south through Korea, China, Taiwan, northern Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas. It was introduced to western Japan. It is not found in the wild in North America.
- Preferred conditions
- Lives in many kinds of forest and open areas, denning in fallen logs, stumps, brush piles, and tree roots.
Behavior
- Diet
- Mostly voles and mice, plus pikas, small birds, and sometimes fish, frogs, and reptiles. It also eats pine nuts and berries and stores extra food.
- Activity
- An energetic hunter that chases prey through snow, logs, water, and even houses. It keeps one permanent den and up to five temporary shelters.
- Social life
- When cornered it is fierce and sprays a strong-smelling musk.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- Mating begins between February and April, depending on the region.
- Gestation
- About 38–41 days
- Litter size
- 4–10 kits
- Time to maturity
- Kits open their eyes at about a month, nurse for two months, and are on their own by late August.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Several subspecies are recognized, including the Taiwan weasel (M. s. davidiana), a more intensely orange form from southeastern China and Taiwan.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- It is hunted for its fur with dogs or box traps.
- It can raid poultry farms but also helps keep rodent numbers down; in Chinese cities it eats many rats.
- In Chinese folklore it is a wandering spirit said to be able to steal souls.
More species to explore
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