Stoat: A Petite, Scrappy and Irresistibly Soft Speedster

Stoats live in most habitats across the northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America, thriving in forests, grasslands and even high country environments. With sandy brown fur in summer and a partially white coat in winter, this short-legged predator is highly adaptable.

Stoats were introduced in the late 1800s to New Zealand to help control the rabbit population, against the advice of most experts and naturalists.

What happened next was tragic and predictable: The stoats also preyed upon ground-nesting birds, causing severe declines in the local population of several species.

The white coat that stoats grow in the winter is known as "ermine," and has been prized for centuries by anyone rich enough to buy a cape, robe or other garment made of the fine white fur (such as royalty and movie stars).

Less intensively harvested now than in the past, ermine fur is still used.

While the crafty, opportunistic stoat continues to thrive, even with hunting and trapping to worry about, some areas are attempting to restore previous populations that have declined due to over-trapping or habitat loss [source: Canada Ermine Recovery Strategy].

Stoats eat a variety of small mammals, including voles, rats and water voles. Depending on availability, their preferred prey may be rabbits.

They use a specialized hunting technique that involves a combination of speed, sharp teeth and a precise bite to the neck to kill animals swiftly. Despite their small size, stoats have a significant effect on prey populations.

Their distinctive bounding gait allows them to chase down prey quickly, navigating through tree roots, rabbit warrens and tree trunks with ease. Stoats also find prey by following scent trails, using their excellent sense of smell to track animals in dense vegetation.

Stoats have been known to perform a strange, erratic "dance" before striking their prey.

As similar behavior is seen in other mustelid family species — such as weasels — this movement is sometimes called the "weasel war dance," and some scientists have posited that it might be a way of mesmerizing or otherwise confusing their prey.

Other specialists have doubted that this is actually a genuine hunting technique, supposing instead that it may be due to an infection caused by infestation by a common nematode.

While stoats help control rabbits and other small rodents, they also pose a threat to native bird populations, especially in places like New Zealand, where they have had a devastating effect on species like the young kiwi, black-fronted terns and the Zealand dotterel.

Stoat predation on the birds and eggs one of the most damaging invasive species in this ecosystem.

Because stoats can reach islands by swimming or crossing land bridges, their presence has disrupted ecosystems that were previously free of mammalian predators. Conservation programs work to control stoat populations in areas where they threaten biodiversity.

Stoats breed once a year, but delayed implantation means the female stoat carries fertilized eggs for months before the pregnancy begins. This adaptation ensures that young are born in spring when food is abundant.

A litter can contain up to 12 kits, raised in several dens hidden in tree roots, burrows or other sheltered spots.

Female stoats are smaller than their male counterparts but just as effective at hunting. The stoat’s larger size compared to the short-tailed weasel gives it an advantage when taking down bigger prey. Both male and female stoats are relentless hunters from a young age.

If you ever spot a fleeting glimpse of a small, fast-moving animal with brown fur, a white underside and a black tip on its tail, you may have just seen a stoat! Stoat footprints show a distinctive straight-line pattern, as they move with a bounding motion rather than a walk.

Their black tail tip remains visible year-round, even when their fur changes color in winter. Whether in warmer parts of their range or near the tree line in mountainous areas, these animals are highly adaptable and efficient hunters.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.