Litter size varies from 3 to 8 kittens. In Greek culture, a weasel near one’s house is a sign of bad luck, even evil, “especially if there is in the The English word “weasel” was originally applied to one species of the genus, the European form of the least weasel. Short-tailed weasels are excellent hunters and prey on other smaller mammals like rats, rabbits, and squirrels. Scientists aren’t totally sure why they do this. Major habitats are plains, but in western Japan it mainly lives in mountainous areas. Males like to eat more mammals and crustacean. Weasels have brown to yellow-brown fur with paler fur on the belly. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing are acute, their hunting instinct is keen, and they are active, aggressive and quick. [2], The mating season is from early May to late June. Their necks are long, their heads small and triangular; eyes are small in relation to head size, and the ears, set low on the skull, are rounded and well-furred. Depending on the climate and season, they may display nocturnal or diurnal behavior. Most species have a single litter per year. It lives in Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu of Japan. In Japan, weasels were seen as yōkai(ghost, phantom), from time immemorial, and they cause various strange occurrences. Weasels are active in both winter and summer; they do not hibernate. Females like to eat insects, fruits and earthworms.[2]. [2] Japanese weasels help in controlling rodent and other small animal populations. In Japan, weasels were seen as yōkai(ghost, phantom), from time immemorial, and they cause various strange occurrences. Their short legs have five small-clawed toes on each foot. Trust your own senses in regard to other people, and you will come out all right, even if it means going alone. Weasels, stoats, and even domesticated ferrets all perform a hilarious “weasel war dance” when they’ve got their prey cornered. They can be found all across the world except for Antarctica, Australia, and neighbouring islands. Japanese weasels are sexually mature at one year old.[2]. They are known to be territorial, defending their home ranges when invaded. They’re skilled climbers, swimmers and runners. In the Native American tradition, the weasel has the medicine for seeking out secrets. Birds of Prey such as owls, hawks and eagles that are able to spot them from high in the sky are the most common predators of the weasel, along with foxes and snakes. Weasels are ferocious predators. Home range sizes vary with habitat, population density, season, sex, food availability, and species. [2], In winter, these slim weasels spend most of their time under the snow chasing small rodents through a maze of tunnels. Weasels are small, nimble mammals of the genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae. In neighboring Macedonia, however, weasels are generally seen as an omen of good fortune. Most hunting is done along rivers, but these weasels sometimes go into grasslands or suburban areas. In neighboring Macedonia, however, weasels are generally seen as an omen of good fortune. Although their populations are in slight decline, Japanese weasels are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of their widespread population across Japan. They sometimes eat berries, seeds and fruits but only when hungry. Weasels are carnivores who eat over 40% of their own body weight each day. Male weasels mate with multiple females and do not provide parental care. Japanese weasels also sometimes hunt domestic birds, such as chickens and ducks. [2], Japanese weasels are also great hunters. After mating, gestation takes about 30 days. The Japanese weasel was native to three of Japan’s four larger islands: Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. In the past century Japanese weasels have been introduced to many small Japanese islands to kill rats that were damaging crops. Anywhere prey can go, the weasel can follow. Much like their skunk relatives, weasels release foul-smelling substance from their anal glands as a defense mechanism, and perhaps even to mark their territory. This page was last changed on 3 September 2020, at 16:27. It mainly lives in mountainous and forested places near moving water. The offspring … [2], They eat mice, frogs, reptiles, insects and crayfish. Weasels often prey on animals larger than themselves. They do not like other Japanese weasels entering their home range and will defend their home range. From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japanese_weasel&oldid=7095621, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. Their diet changes depending on the season, the number of some foods. Their tails may be from 3.5 to 5.2 centimeters (1.3 to 2.0 in) long; The average weasel weighs about 200 grams (7 ounces). They eat small mammals (like mice, squirrels, lemmings, rabbits, and hares), birds, frogs, lizards, insects, carrion (dead meat that they find). The Japanese weasel (Mustela Itatsi) is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Mustelidae.