Ermine in Detail.

Short-tailed weasels, may also commonly be referred to as ermine in Alaska, and others may call them stoats. Short-tailed weasels are small curious weasels, entertaining to observe.

Short-tailed weasels have adequate tail length to their body, so that the tail doesn't really seem short in relation to body length. Tails are relatively a third of body length or greater. Males are larger than females and typically short-tailed weasel populations decrease in body size the further north they are living.

In summer months their fur is a lovely reddish-brown color with tan accents and black tail tips. In winter their coats change to solid white keeping their black tail tips.

Males may be referred to as a jack, dog, or hob, while females are a jill or bitch.

Diet

Short-tailed weasels feed on smaller rodents like shrews, voles but will take prey as large as pika and hares. They will also feed on small birds, fish, and sometimes insects.

Northern Red-backed Vole, Southern Red-backed Vole or Gapper's Red-backed Vole, Meadow Vole, Tundra Vole, Long-tailed Vole, Yellow-cheeked Vole, Singing Vole, Tiny Shrew, Pygmy Shrew, Water Shrew, Dusky Shrew, Masked or Common Shrew, Tundra Shrew, Barrenground Shrew, Glacier Bay Water Shrew, American Red Squirrel, Snowshoe Hare, Alaskan Hare, Muskrat, Collared Pika, Collared Pika