Mustela frenata, long-tailed weasel

The long-tailed weasel is solitary and secretive in its habit. It will hunt both day and night and will capture and consume prey much larger than itself. It will feed heavily on cottontails, hares, squirrels, snakes, and birds. It is typically found in areas where the ground is wet and the vegetation is thick. The vegetation provides camouflage during hunting, adequate resting spots, and a safe place to avoid predators. The weasel will den in the soft, moist, soils that form the banks of streams and pond edges. A network of tunnels constructed under and over roots along the cut edge of stream banks provides a means of safe transportation.