Weasels and stoats
Weasels and stoats are both mustelids: a group of small-to-medium-sized carnivores. In the UK, this group includes six native species: the badger, otter, pine marten, polecat, weasel and its close cousin the stoat, plus the introduced North American mink. People often confuse stoats and weasels, which are superficially similar, as both have the same basic pattern of brown above and yellowish-white below. A full-grown male stoat may weigh as much as five times the weight of a weasel, and they are also much longer; up to 18in (45cm), including the tail. The weasel’s fur is usually slightly darker; chestnut rather than sandy-brown, and its tail is shorter. Unlike that of the stoat, it does not have a black tip. When encountering a lone animal, where judging size may be difficult, this is the most reliable aid to telling the two species apart. Another major difference is that unlike stoats living in upland regions of Britain, weasels in this country never turn white, even during the coldest, snowiest winters, unlike parts of northern Europe. Though there are approximately the same number of stoats in the UK as there are weasels, stoats are generally easier to see, as they are not only larger, but more inclined to emerge into the open. Both creatures are often seen running rapidly across the road.