6873119839_a487cf2eb9 6873117849_3c2a43e784_s
Photo © bryanto some rights reserved
farmington bay utah (Google, OSM)
40.9510755418, -111.9085242934
open
Feb. 15, 2012 11:34:58 -0700
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Comments & Identifications

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Long-tailed Weasel - Photo (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
bryanto's ID Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata)
Posted by bryanto over 1 year ago (Flag)
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Quite certain it is a Long-tailed Weasel,in winter coat,sometimes called Ermine. A Short-tailed Weasel wouldn't typically occur in this habitat,as they usually occur at higher elevations in the mountains locally, also it was too big to be a Short-tailed Weasel,about a foot long,not including tail.

Posted by bryanto over 1 year ago (Flag)
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I thought the ermine (or Stoat) was a different species, M. erminea? They both seem to occur in this area, but your 2nd photo shows a pretty stout tail, which would make me think ermine and not long-tailed weasel.

Posted by invertboy over 1 year ago (Flag)
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They both turn white in winter,and either can be called Ermine in winter plumage. Tail length is variable,and not a reliable way to tell them apart,although this one has a pretty long tail,as seen in the second photo(the black tip is hidden in shadow). Like I said,Short-tailed would not occur in this habitat,and it was too big to be a Short-tailed,as our Short-tailed Weasels are the smallest in the world( M. erminea muricus)

Posted by bryanto over 1 year ago (Flag)
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Identification Summary

Long-tailed Weasel - Photo (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
bryanto's ID Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata)

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Observation © bryanto
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