How to identify it
Long slender body, small narrow head, long whiskers, short legs. [1][2]
Cinnamon-brown above, white underparts with a yellow tinge. [1][2]
Long bushy tail about 50% of body length. [1][2]
Body 330-420 mm in males, 280-350 mm in females; northern animals turn white in winter, southern ones stay brown. [1][2]
Compared with the least weasel: Far smaller with a short tail and no black tip in winter. [1][2]
Compared with the american ermine: Shorter tail relative to body. [1][2]
Species it is confused with
Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.
- Least weasel · Mustela nivalis
- American ermine · Mustela richardsonii
Where it lives
A wide variety of habitats, usually near water: brushland, open woodland, field edges, riparian grassland, swamps and marshes; not desert or thick forest. [1][2]
How it behaves
Where it is listed for legal take
These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.
Where legal take is listed
- Alberta — trapping · Alberta Guide to Trapping Regulations 2026-2027
- British Columbia — trapping · 2026-2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
- Manitoba — trapping · Trapping of Wild Animals Regulation, M.R. 245/90, Schedule A
- New Brunswick — trapping · Hunt & Trap Regulations Summary 2026–2027
- Nova Scotia — trapping · 2026 Hunting and Fur Harvesting Summary of Regulations
- Ontario — hunting, trapping · O. Reg. 670/98 Open Seasons — Wildlife (read via e-Laws .doc export)
- Québec — trapping · Périodes de piégeage
- Saskatchewan — trapping · 2026-27 Trappers Guide
- Arizona — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 Arizona Hunting Regulations
- California — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take · 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations (updated July 1, 2026)
- Colorado — hunting, trapping · 2 CCR 406-3 Chapter W-3 Furbearers and Small Game, Except Migratory Birds (07/16/2026; eff. 2026-09-01)
- Connecticut — trapping · 2026 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide
- Georgia — trapping · 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Seasons (official WRD guide, publuu-hosted PDF, p.16)
- Idaho — hunting, trapping · Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer 2026 & 2027 Seasons & Rules
- Illinois — trapping · Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-2027 (PDF read from cached copy of the digest linked on this page)
- Indiana — hunting, trapping · Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide 2026-2027: Furbearer Hunting
- Iowa — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Iowa Hunting, Trapping & Migratory Game Bird Regulations (DNR PDF; page numbers cited)
- Kansas — hunting, trapping · Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, Fall 2025-Spring 2026
- Kentucky — hunting, trapping · Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, August 2026-March 2027
- Maine — trapping · 2026-27 Maine Trapping Lawbook
- Maryland — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping (official guide, linked from dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide)
- Massachusetts — hunting, other regulated take · M.G.L. c.131 s.5 Open seasons; rules and regulations
- Mississippi — trapping · Furbearer & Trapping (MDWFP)
- Montana — hunting, trapping · Predator Shooting (FWP web page)
- Nebraska — hunting, trapping · Small Game & Waterfowl Guide 2025-2026
- Nevada — hunting, trapping · Nevada 2026-2027 Small Game Hunting Regulations & Seasons (NDOW official guide, eRegulations-hosted)
- New Hampshire — hunting, trapping · Fis 300 Wildlife Seasons and Rules
- New Mexico — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 New Mexico Hunting Rules & Information (v08.11.26)
- North Dakota — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 Small Game, Waterfowl and Furbearer Proclamation
- Ohio — hunting, trapping · Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27 (effective 1 Sep 2026-31 Aug 2027); PDF read from cached copy
- Oklahoma — hunting, trapping · Furbearer/Coyote Regulations
- Oregon — hunting, trapping · Oregon Furbearer Trapping & Hunting Regulations, July 1 2026 - June 30 2028
- Pennsylvania — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits
- South Carolina — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
- South Dakota — hunting, trapping · 2026 South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook
- Utah — hunting, trapping · 2026 Black Bear, Cougar and Furbearer Guidebook
- Vermont — hunting, trapping · 2026 Vermont Guide to Hunting & Trapping Laws (official lawbook, publisher-hosted)
- Virginia — trapping · Furbearer Trapping Regulations and Seasons | Virginia DWR
- Washington — trapping · WAC 220-400-020 Classification of wild animals
- West Virginia — hunting, trapping · West Virginia 2026-2027 Hunting Season Dates | WVDNR
- Wisconsin — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take, trapping · 2026 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Seasons PUB-CS-076-2026 (updated 06/08/2026)
- Wyoming — hunting, trapping · WGFC Ch. 4 Furbearing Animal Hunting or Trapping Seasons (dated Jul 14 2021; matches 2026/27 brochure)
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
Southern Canada, nearly all of the contiguous US (excluding the southwestern deserts), south to Venezuela and Bolivia.
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30
NatureServe
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology