What do Weasels Eat
Weasels are a small mammal that can be found throughout much of the world except for Australia, Antarctica and most of Africa. They belong to the Mustelidae family that includes otters, wolverines and badgers. They are at least 16 known species of weasels and the biggest of these only reach 45 cm (18 in) long. Even though they are small creatures they are very active predators. Let’s take a look at the diet of the weasel.
What do weasels eat?
Every species of weasel has a slightly different diet, but generally speaking weasels are carnivores (meat eaters) that actively prey on other small mammals. They commonly eat many small rodents such as mice, rats, voles, rabbits, and squirrels. They will also eat small birds and have been known to prey on poultry, which has led to their reputation as a pest in some areas. Some species are also known to eat fish and frogs. If food is scarce they may even eat birds eggs and insects.
Did you know?
The weasel is an important part of the food chain. Not only do they help to reduce the population of rodents, but they are preyed on by larger predators such as foxes and hawks.
Weasel fur was once popular in fashion circles and it is also used to create high quality paint brushes.
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