13 August 2021

Short-tailed weasels, also called stoats or ermine (Mustela erminea), are small fierce predators that can kill prey four times their size (photo of killing a rabbit here). As babies they learn to tackle and hold by playing with their siblings.

Orphaned stoats miss these important lessons if they remain alone. In the video below from the UK, two orphans meet for the first time, then play and play and play.

By the way, wild weasels are not good pets and it is illegal to keep them without a permit. If you want a pet weasel, get a ferret.

(photo from Wikimedia Commons; click on the caption to see the original. YouTube video embedded from The Dodo)