Weasels are present in Tennessee, though often unseen. The primary species is the Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata). Their elusive nature and small size mean they are rarely observed.
Weasel Presence in Tennessee
The Long-tailed Weasel has the widest distribution of any mustelid in North America, including Tennessee. While widespread, their populations in the state are uncommon. Their small stature and swift movements make direct sightings infrequent.
Identifying Tennessee’s Weasels
The Long-tailed Weasel has a long, slender body, short legs, a flattened head, and a long neck. Their fur is typically brown on top, transitioning to white or yellowish-white on their undersides. Their tail, about half their body length, is consistently tipped with black. Unlike northern weasels, those in Tennessee generally retain brown fur year-round, not turning white in winter. Males are noticeably larger than females, sometimes almost twice their size.
Long-tailed Weasels can be confused with mink, another Tennessee mustelid. Mink are generally larger and have uniformly dark brown fur, lacking the distinct white undersides and the proportionately longer, black-tipped tail of the Long-tailed Weasel. The Least Weasel, a much smaller species, also differs by having a short tail without a black tip.
Habitats and Behaviors
Long-tailed Weasels in Tennessee occupy diverse habitats, including woodlands, thickets, fencerows, and open fields, often near water sources. They do not typically dig their own burrows, instead utilizing abandoned burrows of other small mammals, rock crevices, hollow logs, or spaces under tree roots and barns for their nests. Their nests are often lined with grass and fur from their prey.
These animals are carnivores with a high metabolism, necessitating frequent feeding; they can consume about 40% of their body weight daily. Their diet primarily consists of small mammals such as shrews, mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, moles, and rabbits. They also occasionally prey on birds and their eggs, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Weasels are agile hunters, capable of pursuing prey into burrows due to their slender bodies, and they kill their prey with a quick bite to the base of the skull. While they can be active during the day, they are more often nocturnal.
Weasels and Human Interaction
Long-tailed Weasels are generally shy and tend to avoid human contact, making direct encounters uncommon. While they are predators, concerns about poultry predation are rare, and these instances are often isolated. Their primary diet of rodents means they can be beneficial in controlling rodent populations around agricultural areas and human dwellings.
In Tennessee, the Long-tailed Weasel is considered an uncommon species and is listed as a protected furbearing animal, meaning it can only be trapped during set seasons. It is always advisable to observe weasels from a distance and avoid disturbing them. If a weasel is observed near human structures, ensuring that potential food sources like mice are excluded from the property can encourage the weasel to move on.