Ermine

Ermine (species of mustelid in the genus Mustela)

Ermine, usually referred to as weasel or stoat, is a small mammal typically occupying areas of forest land abutted by grassy meadows. They are highly energetic and intelligent. As such, they hunt incessantly, keeping an abundance of food stores in their cache.

Ermine are often a sable color. Their fur can sometimes be mixed with darker browns and tan colors. Cream-colored bellies help with camouflage and to keep the animal cool.

Only theories exist about the ermine's black tail tip. It is believed, the black tip helps draw a predator's attention away from the more vulnerable parts of the body, giving the ermine a better chance to escape. Or perhaps, the black tip is used to distract an ermine's prey.

Ermines have the ability to can change color. A kind of superpower that helps them move about unseen. During the warmer months of the year, ermines retain their brownish-sable colors and cream colored belly. This helps them camouflage against the forest floor. Once snow arrives they can change to all white except for the black tail tip. Once they are white they blend in with the snow to keep them hidden from predators.

Ermine of often confused with the following animals but they are not the same:

• Mink
• Ferret
• Polecat
• Marten
• Fisher

Predators and Prey

An ermine has many predators. Both from the sky and the forest floor. Typically, they are hunted by hawks, owls, eagles, fox, coyote, bobcat, and wolves, as well as domesticated cats.

Ermine prefer small rodents as their primary prey, such as mice, small rabbits or squirrels, and chipmunks. But they will also eat small birds, eggs and, bird chicks. In times of food scarcity, they will consume reptiles and insects to help keep their energy requirements met.

Ermines have a unique and interesting gestation process. Typically impregnated around five weeks old while still in their burrow with their mother, female ermine go through a process known as delayed implantation (obligate embryonic diapause). They carry the fertilized eggs in a state colloquially called

'limbo" for up to a year. Once the harshness of winter has passed and food supplies increase, the fertilized eggs move to the womb. It is only once in the womb that the fertilized eggs begin to develop.

Ermine in Literature

Ermine may refer to three species of mustelid in the genus Mustela, or their fur:

• Stoat or Eurasian ermine, Mustela erminea, found throughout Eurasia and northern North America
• American ermine, Mustela richardsonii, found throughout North America aside from most of Alaska and the Arctic
• Haida ermine, Mustela haidarum, endemic to Haida Gwaii and the Alexander Archipelago on the Pacific Northwest coast of North America

Ermine may also refer to:

• Ermine (heraldry), the white winter fur and black tail end of the stoat, which is historically worn by and associated with royalty and high officials
• "Ermine marks" are dark patches of color on the white limb of a horse, just above the level of the hoof
• Ermine moth, a family of moths
• Ermine, a northern suburb of Lincoln, England
• Ermine Street, a Roman Road running from London to Lincoln and York
• Ermine, Kentucky, a town in the U.S. state of Kentucky
• Ermine (band), a Canadian progressive rock band

See also

• Erminie, a 19th-century comic opera