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Wildlife and Other Sightings: Long-tailed weasel

September 15, 2012 Posted by: KB - Mather District Volunteer Interpretive Ranger

Long-tailed Weasel
Mustela frenata

A solitary long-tailed weasel was seen on the trail at Lyell Canyon about five miles in from the Tioga Road. Long-tailed weasels are somewhat commonly seen throughout the Sierra Nevada and most parts of the United States, South America, Mexico and some portions of Canada. They inhabit a variety of terrain including farmland, woodlands, and thickets. They den in ground burrows, under stumps or beneath rock piles and usually stick to themselves, except during mating season. Being resourceful creatures, they rarely dig their own burrows, but commonly use abandoned chipmunk holes. The long-tailed weasel is a fearless and aggressive hunter which may attack animals far larger than itself. If you stay quiet and look closely, you're more likely to find this little carnivore - often near a water source.

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