Winter Coat Ermine: What Animal Dons This Luxurious Pelt?

The stoat, also known as the short-tailed weasel, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. The name ermine is used to refer to the stoat in its pure white winter coat, or the fur thereof. The stoat's fur has historically been used in royal robes in Europe, and the ermine term also refers to the animal's white coat, which is sold in the fur trade.

The stoat, also known as the short-tailed weasel, is native to Eurasia and North America

The stoat, also known as the short-tailed weasel, is a small carnivorous mammal found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is native to the northern regions of Eurasia and North America, and has also been introduced to New Zealand. Stoats are part of the Mustelidae family, also known as the 'weasel family', which includes badgers, otters, martens, mink and the wolverine.

Stoats are accomplished predators, capable of taking prey much larger than themselves. They have slender, elongated bodies, long necks and triangular heads. Their legs are short, and they have five toes on each paw. The soles of their feet are covered in thick fur. Stoats are agile, with an average length of 18.7 to 32.5 cm (7.4 to 12.8 inches) for males, and 17 to 27 cm (6.7 to 10.6 inches) for females.

The stoat's long, thin body is an adaptation for hunting small burrowing creatures. They pursue their prey into their burrows and under the snow. Stoats are territorial, with males having larger territories than females. They mark their territories with urine, droppings and scent from their anal and body glands.

Stoats moult twice a year, in spring and autumn. Their summer coat is sandy brown to reddish-brown in colour, with white or cream undersides and feet. In autumn, the stoat's coat becomes white, except for the black tip of the tail, which remains black throughout the year. The winter coat is thicker, longer and softer than the summer coat.

The stoat is an opportunistic predator, moving rapidly and checking every available burrow or crevice for food. They are usually silent, but can produce a range of sounds, including chirping, trilling, whining, hissing, barks and shrieks.

Stoats are rated as a species of 'Least Concern' by the IUCN, although in some areas, populations may be threatened by factors such as habitat loss, unrestricted trapping and a decline in prey species.

The ermine is used in heraldry, with its black and white colouring used as a symbol of royalty

The stoat, a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America, is called an ermine when it has its winter coat of fur. In heraldry, ermine is a type of tincture, consisting of a white background with a pattern of black shapes representing the winter coat of the stoat.

Ermine has long been associated with royalty and high status. In the 15th century, Catholic monarchs used ermine fur, sometimes as the mozzetta cape. During the reign of Edward III of England in the 14th century, the wearing of ermine was restricted to members of the royal family. Ermine was also used to line coronation cloaks and other garments worn by high-ranking peers and royalty. The black spots on these garments indicated the rank and position of the wearer.

In heraldry, ermine has become especially associated with the Duchy of Brittany and Breton heraldry. The tincture of ermine is often used to line crowns and chapeaux, as well as the royal canopy. The ermine spot, the conventional heraldic representation of the tail, has had various shapes over the centuries, with the most common representation featuring three tufts at the end and converging to a point at the top.

The heraldic fur ermine is also associated with luxury and nobility. In addition to its use in coronation cloaks, ermine fur was historically used in royal robes in Europe and is still used in the ceremonial robes of members of the United Kingdom House of Lords. It is also traditionally used in the academic hoods of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, although rabbit or fake fur is often used nowadays due to expense or animal rights concerns.

The stoat was introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century to control rabbits but had a devastating effect on native bird populations

The stoat, also known as the Eurasian ermine or ermine, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. The name ermine is especially used to refer to the pure white winter coat of the stoat or its fur.

The stoat was introduced to New Zealand in the late 19th century, with large numbers being brought over from Britain as early as 1879. The aim was to control the rabbit population, which was destroying sheep pasture and driving farmers from their land. However, the introduction of stoats had a devastating effect on native bird populations.

Within six years of their introduction, drastic declines in bird populations were noticed. Stoats are agile climbers and relentless hunters, able to climb tall trees and raid birds' nests. They are also good swimmers, capable of swimming across water gaps of up to 1.5 km to reach islands. This ability to swim to islands was demonstrated when stoats swam to Resolution Island, undoing the translocation efforts of pioneering conservationist Richard Henry.

In some areas, the stoat has contributed to the extinction of native bird species, including the huia, bush wren, native thrush, laughing owl, quail, stitchbird, saddleback, kākāpō and little spotted kiwi. They are also known to prey on the rare kiwi, kaka, mohua, yellow-crowned parakeet, and New Zealand dotterel. Stoats are the number-one killer of many of New Zealand's endangered native species, and their impact on native bird populations has led to them being nominated as one of the world's top 100 "worst invaders".

The impact of stoats on native bird populations in New Zealand was predicted by scientists in New Zealand and Britain, including ornithologist Walter Buller, but their warnings were ignored. Today, there are severe penalties for introducing stoats into protected areas, and a programme of stoat-trapping has been implemented in some areas to protect endangered birds.

The stoat is a carnivore, feeding on small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs and invertebrates

The stoat, also known as the ermine, is a carnivore. It feeds on small mammals, such as rabbits, rodents, and lagomorphs. It also eats birds, eggs, frogs, and invertebrates. Stoats are known to climb trees to gain access to birds' nests and are common raiders of nest boxes. They are fierce predators and eat around 50 grams of food per day, which is about 25% of their body weight. This means they spend a lot of time hunting.

Stoats are native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. They have a circumboreal range throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In Europe, they can be found as far south as Portugal and inhabit most islands except for some, such as Iceland and the Mediterranean islands. In Asia, they are found in Japan, mainly in the northern and central Japanese Alps and Hokkaido. Stoats were also introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century to control the rabbit population but ended up devastating native bird populations.

Stoats are small to medium-sized animals, with males being noticeably larger than females. They have long and lithe bodies, with males measuring up to 325 mm in body length and females up to 270 mm. The tail is medium-length, with the rearmost third always black. The underside of the stoat is creamy white, while the flanks are uniformly brown, forming a straight, contrasting line with the pale belly.

Stoats are known for their hunting techniques, such as stalking prey in the open and investigating all possible hiding places. They are also able to pursue prey above and below ground. They are most active during the day and nest in old burrows.

The stoat is a nocturnal and solitary animal

The stoat, also known as the Eurasian ermine, ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a nocturnal and solitary animal. It is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. Stoats are spread across Aotearoa and can be found in high country, beach areas, farms, bushland, forests and high altitudes above the tree line. They are strong swimmers, capable of swimming 1km or more to reach islands.

Stoats are largely carnivorous, with their primary food source being the rabbit, despite being many times its own weight. They also eat small rodents, hares, birds, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Stoats are known to kill more than they need and store the extra food for later. They are fierce predators and can move at speeds of 20 miles per hour when hunting. They are also clever and careful, making them difficult to control.

The stoat is a small mammal with an average head and body length of between 16 and 31 centimetres. Male stoats are larger than females, usually measuring 29 centimetres with a tail length of 11 centimetres, while females measure around 26 centimetres with a 9-centimetre tail. Stoats have a long, slender, cylindrical body and neck, short legs and a long tail with a distinctive black tip.

In summer, the stoat's fur is chestnut brown, with lighter underparts. In winter, in the northern regions of North America and tundra areas, its fur becomes thicker and turns white, and it is referred to as an ermine. The ermine fur has been used for centuries in royal robes and ceremonial garments due to its pure white colour.

Stoats are territorial and intolerant of others in their range, especially others of the same sex. They typically use several dens, often taken from prey species, and travel alone except when mating or when a mother has older offspring. Stoat communication occurs mainly by scent, as they have a sensitive olfactory system.

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