A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
The other day, while driving through Akwesasne, I saw a small animal in the middle of the road that had been run over and killed. Its beautiful brown coat, off-white belly, and short black tipped tail, made me curious, so I stopped to see what it was. From the field guides I carry in my truck, I identified it to be an Ermine. The Ermine is also known as a Short-tailed Weasel and a Stoat. It is actually referred to as an Ermine in the winter when its thick fur is white, and it is known as a Stoat in the warm months when parts of its coat turn brown. In all seasons and colors it has a black tipped tail, which it is believed is a decoy to help its predators (wolves, foxes, coyotes, badgers, wolverines, and some birds of prey) to find them in the snow. The Ermine is a small mammal belonging to the Mustelidae family. The Mustelidae also includes other weasels such as, the mink, otters, ferrets, badgers, wolverines, martens, fishers, and skunks. When alarmed, the Ermine releases, (like a skunk) a powerful musky smell from glands near its anus.
The Ermine is a small animal that weighs between 3 - 15 ounces. The head and body length can range from 7 - 13 inches. The females are much smaller. The Ermine has short legs, small ears, and is built long and thin enabling it to follow burrowing animals into their homes where they are caught to be eaten. The mostly crepuscular (meaning nocturnal “night”) Ermines are found throughout the northern temperate areas of North America. Ermine are actually diurnal meaning they can sometimes be active in both day and night. They are found in Canada, northern USA, and in Eurasia. Ermines are well adapted to living in harsh cold environments. They make their dens in the old roots of a tree or in crevices of rocks when they are in areas like the Tundra that has no trees. Their habitat in New York and Canada is in
Coniferous and other forests, marshes, open fields (close to forests), and brushland. Dens can be crevices under tree roots, rocks or logs and in abandoned burrows.
Ermines are carnivores. They eat insects, small mammals, birds and their eggs and young. They also eat small reptiles and fish. They are very skillful tree climbers and can descend a trunk headfirst like a squirrel. Though Ermines are small they are capable of killing animals much larger than themselves. In an unsuccessful attempt to control a large growing population of rabbits, it was introduced into New Zealand. When the Ermine is able to obtain more meat than it can eat, it will engage in “surplus killing” and store the extra food for later. When it kills to store its
prey, it will kill it by breaking the prey’s neck so as not to make any marks on the prey’s body. It is believed this done so its cache will not quickly spoil. Another amazing feat the Ermine is capable of is called “transfixing.” The Ermine will do a tumbling routine (a sort of dance), which appears to hypnotize rabbits. The rabbits become so transfixed by this dance they fail to notice the Ermine getting within striking distance. When the Ermine gets close enough, the rabbit is easy prey for the witty Ermine. I guess that could definitely be called a “ Dance of Death.” The Ermine usually dispatches (kills) its prey by biting into the base of its skull to get to centers of the brain that will affect biological functions, like breathing,
which enables them to kill their prey as quickly as possible. The larger male
Ermines will generally take larger prey than will the females. Ermines move in a sinuous (crooked, curved, serpentine, snaky, coiling, twisting and turning) manner when pursuing their prey. They are extremely quick considering their small size, and they are strong swimmers enabling them to colonize offshore islands. Because they are such good swimmers and can swim up to one mile, the Ermine released in New Zealand have already reached many of its offshore islands. In the past 20 years Ermine have colonized Maud Island many times.
Ermine are very territorial and will not tolerate others in its range, including others of their same sex. They will usually have and use several dens some that are taken from their prey. They usually travel alone except during mating season, and mothers can frequently be seen with their older offspring. Their mating system is promiscuous. Breeding season occurs only once a year, with them mating with multiple partners. Even though the Ermine is such a small animal, its gestation is among the longest (11 months) reported for mammals. This gestation period is so long because of embryonic diapause (delayed implantation). The fertilized egg is not implanted into the female’s uterus until months after the actual mating. The Ermines “real” gestation period is much shorter. The delayed implantation is an adaptation to the Ermine’s seasonal environment since many live in arctic-like areas. The males do not help to raise their young.
The following is some Ermine trivia:
The Ermine has a flexible spine allowing it to do the “marten run”. This means the hind feet are tucked in up by the front feet, which causes the back to arch and then as it runs, the back again becomes extended.
Since the Ermine is a carnivore, it has 34 sharp teeth.
The male Ermine reaches maturity at 12 months.
The female reaches maturity at 2 months.
The mating season is during late spring and summer.
Three to thirteen young are born each mating season.
The birth size of an Ermine is a mere half an ounce.
When the kits [babies] are 8 weeks old their mother teaches them to how to hunt.
After the mother teaches her female kits (babies) how to hunt they are ready to mate.
The males are not ready to mate and leave their mothers until the next spring.
The females sometimes stay under their mother’s protection in her territory.
An Ermine’s life span is 4 to 7 years.
Ermines can hunt for small rodents entirely under the snows.
Ermine’s paws have claws that enable them to dig.
The front feet are smaller than the back, which helps them fit into small, tight spaces.
A long time ago during the Middle Ages the fur of the white phase of the Ermine was popular in clothing. Now Ermines are almost never used in clothing.
Ermines are neither threatened nor endangered.
The Ermine is considered a symbol of purity in Europe.
In the Renaissance era, legends state that an Ermine would die before allowing its pure white coat to be soiled in a chase. When hunters chased it, it would supposedly turn around and give itself up to the hunters rather than risk soiling itself.
In a few Nordic countries the Ermine is a symbol of curiosity and timely action.
In some areas of Japan the Ermine is considered as a symbol of good.
Dens are usually at or below ground level.
Females hunt within their prey’s burrows.
Males hunt on the ground.
They do not actually have a voice, but they do grunts, hiss, chatter, and whine.
They are capable climbers and swimmers. They will chase squirrels and chipmunks right up their tree to catch them.
They often investigate all the crevices and holes when moving about, looking for prey.
They will periodically stand upright to check their surroundings and to look out for predators.
Ermine prints are similar to other weasel prints. They are often paired. Hind prints usually fall within the fore prints. The Ermine’s 5th toe is obscured. The hind print is longer than the fore print. Prints are up to an inch wide and the stride is 4-5 inches.
Small tunnels found in the snow may have been made by Ermines diving for their prey.
Irregular track patterns are usually present due to the Ermine’s erratic foraging.
Ermine live in the forests or areas of deep underbrush, and you will very often find them living in areas that are near to water.
The Ermine is a vicious little carnivore, sometimes called the short tailed weasel, and like a weasel is very quick and amazingly agile.
It has a slender body that is reminiscent of a serpent, moving through very small burrows of other animals as well as through the holes in chicken wire, so small an area can it go through in search of a meal.
The Ermine finds its prey in the prey’s own home, whether that home is a burrow or up a tree.
If you go to the following Web link - there are some fun to watch You Tube videos on Ermines and other Ermine things for children:
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