It is a fine line between feisty and fierce, one defined by the beholder.
The long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) straddles that line, feisty as it stands up to a curious coyote and fierce as it attacks and kills a rabbit for its lunch
Long-tailed weasels are the largest of three American weasel species, but their size varies greatly between males, which grow to 17 inches long and weigh up to a pound, and females, which are generally half that length and weight. Both sexes sport black masks across their eyes and black fur on the tips of their tails.
Long-tails shed then regrow their fur coats twice a year. In some parts of its great geographic distribution the fur grows back white as snow (except for the tip of the tail which remains black as coal) but not in the Central Valley of California where bright white in the winter is about as camouflaged as shocking-pink polka dots.
Weasels are not social animals, living solitary lives except during mating season in the summer. The ranges of weasels of the same sex never overlap but the ranges of males may overlap that of several females. They can be out and about in daylight but prefer to be active at night.
Weasels have excellent eyesight, hearing and sense of smell. They have lightning-quick reflexes and are good climbers and swimmers. They are superior hunters that can track their prey by scent to within visual range then ferociously attack and kill it with a bite to the base of its skull. They are an integral part of controlling rodent populations.
Weasels prefer eating mammals but won’t turn down an occasional reptile, bird or clutch of eggs for dinner. Female weasels can fit inside rodent burrows and hunt mice and voles that live therein. Male weasels often pursue larger prey such as cottontail rabbits. Both sexes enjoy eating fruit and berries when available.
Weasels metabolize their food at a rapid rate. To keep up with their bodies’ energy demands, they must eat 20 to 30 percent of their body weight every 24 hours. To put that into perspective, imagine a 150-lb. human needing to consume 45 pounds of food every day! After killing prey larger than it can eat at one meal a weasel will often store the remains near a nest site for later consumption.
Owls and coyotes eat weasels, and the young ones are especially prone to predation.
The long-tailed weasel is aggressive when it feels threatened by animals much larger than itself. Human beings are in that category, so it is best not to approach nor corner a weasel if one is spotted roaming about in daylight. That, to the beholding weasel, crosses the line and would turn feisty into fierce.
Unless one is visiting the wildlife refuge, or is otherwise out and about around sunrise or shortly thereafter, one is not likely to encounter a weasel at all.
The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, Merced National Wildlife Refuge and the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge comprise the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Its headquarters and visitor center are located just north of Los Banos off Highway 165 at 7376 South Wolfsen Road.
The refuges are open to visitors daily from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. The visitor center is open Monday through Friday except federal holidays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
