Weaseling Around was originally published in the BFEC Newsletter, Vol. 15/No. 3, Summer 2011.
Believe it or not, weasels and their kin are good for much more than conniving or collecting en masse to function as impractical winter garments. Here in Knox County, we're lucky enough to have as many as five different representatives from the weasel family — though you'd be extremely lucky to see even three.
Weasels and their relatives the mink, river otter and badger all hail from the largest group of carnivorous mammals on earth: the Mustelidae. Many are playful and curious by nature and all have a fondness for sharing their scent via large musk glands under their tails. Mustelids use their musk to attract mates, mark territories and to deter predators.
They also use this ability to identify food caches. Their torpedo-like bodies are extremely efficient for movement through a variety of habitats but do not store heat well. Weasels, minks and otters often collect and store more food than they need in case prey become scarce. As they are active year-round, this habit is essential during long, lean winter months. Most of them aren't too picky about what they call dinner: insects, amphibians, birds, shellfish and even smaller mammals are all on the menu.
The next time you're out on the Gap Trail or down by the river, keep your eyes peeled for minks (pictured below). Often in the shadow of their showboating cousins the river otters, minks are a smaller darker water-loving weasel that can be spotted sitting upright, scouting for prey.