Weasels
In Redwall
- Alignment: Evil
- Appearance: Weasels are clothed and bipedal versions of those in
our world.
- Diet: Weasels eat what other vermin eat- meat and sometimes
goodbeast-type food.
- Typical Personality: Weasels aren't the brightest types, but
they're usually not as stupid as stoats. They tend to have similar
personalities though - cowardly, whining, and grumbling. There are
exceptions, of course, but that's what many of them are like. Most are
fairly cunning and sneaky - but cunning is different than intelligent.
They can range between stupid and intelligent like some of the other vermin
species; however, most are on the more intelligent side, if sometimes a bit
lacking in common sense.
Outside Redwall
- Classification: Species: Mustela nivalis
- Other Names: Weasel, least weasel
- Appearance: Weasels look much like ferrets or stoats, only smaller
and darker. Their fur ranges from ginger to russet brown with cream stomachs
and throats, and northern weasels often turn all white in the winter. Males are 194-217mm long with a 42-52mm long tail and
weigh around 106-131g, while females average 173-183mm in length with a
34-43mm tail and weigh 55-69g.
- Life Span: Most weasels don't survive to be even 2 years old in the
wild.
- Diet: Weasels eat mostly small rodents, but will also eat foods
such as eggs, small rabbits, and birds, and sometimes even insects and
lizards.
- Habitat: Many weasels take over the dens of their former prey and
line it with fur from various prey. A weasel's home range will usually
contain several dens.
- Typical Personality: Weasels are aggressively territorial, though
males tend to have larger ranges than females. They are excellent
hunters and often fierce fighters. Young weasels play- fight while
still in their mother's den and range.
- Habits: Weasels do not hibernate, and can hunt under even deep
snow. They are very active in day and at night.
- Life Cycle: Each weasel female has only one litter of 3 - 6 young
each spring. The young are weaned at 3 - 4 weeks of age and are
efficient killers by eight weeks. They leave their mother's home range
9 to 12 weeks after birth.
- Sites for Further Research: