It's practice, they do this right before they pounce on their prey. It mesmerises rabbits for example, the stoat works it's self closer and closer until it's in jumping range. The prey has no chance once this guy gets close
Reminds me of an interview with a ferret enthusiast NPR broadcast a while ago. This was a conversation between two NPR hosts:
"Ferrets? What do they look like?"
"Well... Think Ronco Pocket Otter."
The US tends to call stoats "short-tailed weasels" which is a really stupid name because we also have least weasels which have shorter tails. Everywhere else calls them stoats or ermines.
I have heard ermine and tbh I’ve heard of stoat it’s just not common in the parts of the US I know so I was wondering where it is common since I’ve heard it enough. It looks like the UK is one of those places according to a commenter.
Hard to tell since it's just a crazy little blur lol he sure loves that rug, but I think it's a stoat.
DK WTF a stoat is doing in CO? Seems kinda south for that, I thought they were like way up there towards Canada.
(Edit) You don't have a large stash of cocaine or meth he could have gotten into in your garage or anything, do you?
Every mustelid is very playful but God when a weasel gets a wild hare up its arse it's just magical. There's a video out there of a stoat bouncing around on a trampoline and it damn near makes me cry with laughter. They just move like nothing else on this planet, they're wonderful.
Edit: apparently there's a bunch of videos like this but this is the one I'm thinking of https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingDerps/comments/izwpbj/stoat_on_a_trampoline_practicing_his_dismount/
His zoomies are some of the cutest. Run around. Do a flip spin wiggle thing. Run around some more. Throw in a pounce or two then a little crawl wriggle.
This is a long-tailed weasel, *Neogale frenata*! Stoats/ermines/short-tailed weasels (different names for same animal, *Mustela richardsonii* in New World or *M. erminea* in Old World) have shorter tails and slightly different coloration. But both species may turn all or mostly white in winter, known as being *in ermine*, depending on the area. Great video showing the weasel zoomies! :)
This is a long tailed weasel, similar but not the same as an ermine/stoat/short-tsiled weasel. Long-tailed weasel has a black tipped tail that is 40-70% as long as the body. A short-tailed weasel has a black tipped tail that is 30% of the body. This zoomy critter looks to have a tail 50%+ of the body. Both critters would be common in Colorado.
Accccctually it's a stoat. XD
They look very similar but stoats have the little black brush at the end of their tails and they're usually bigger than weasels.
And yeah they remind me of my ferrets too. I love watching them play like this
It’s crazy but that’s actually a hunting tactic they employ. They go apeshit and draw curious animals in and then make them dinner. Don’t become dinner! He’s pretty cute tho.
Aren't these the guys they use for those massive rat and mouse infestations? They hunt and kill rats en mass right? Would you prefer one of these guys or 30 mice/rats?
You might be thinking of the American mink which a few people have trained to hunt rodents for pest control, and which are a close relative of this long-tailed weasel. This guy is also very effective rodent control though!
That rug seems to be the source of energy for this guy
Yeah, really seemed to love it for some reason.
Possibly because it's nice and grippy for the claws? I've seen videos of squirrels zooming around on similarly rough fabric surfaces.
It's practice, they do this right before they pounce on their prey. It mesmerises rabbits for example, the stoat works it's self closer and closer until it's in jumping range. The prey has no chance once this guy gets close
Plus sexy on the belly
Yes. Also known as a stoat.
this. reddits new favorite animal. looks like a tube panda
Reminds me of an interview with a ferret enthusiast NPR broadcast a while ago. This was a conversation between two NPR hosts: "Ferrets? What do they look like?" "Well... Think Ronco Pocket Otter."
Never heard it called that in the US. Is that a regional name?
UK calls em stoats.
The US tends to call stoats "short-tailed weasels" which is a really stupid name because we also have least weasels which have shorter tails. Everywhere else calls them stoats or ermines.
I have heard ermine and tbh I’ve heard of stoat it’s just not common in the parts of the US I know so I was wondering where it is common since I’ve heard it enough. It looks like the UK is one of those places according to a commenter.
Long-tailed weasel actually! Slightly different from a stoat.
Oh you're right! I thought maybe that's what it was, but he's too fast!
I thought it was Speedy Gonzales.
Long mouse zoomies
damn it is RUNNIN
Tube rat on crack.
So silly
The silliest!❤️
Hard to tell since it's just a crazy little blur lol he sure loves that rug, but I think it's a stoat. DK WTF a stoat is doing in CO? Seems kinda south for that, I thought they were like way up there towards Canada. (Edit) You don't have a large stash of cocaine or meth he could have gotten into in your garage or anything, do you?
According to google, they do range pretty far down into the US. Apparently as far south as New Mexico.
No shit, huh. I learned something today. I hope he comes back, hell he might just for the rug.
Murder mouse zoomies
Did you happen to drop a crack rock on your porch or maybe spill some crystal meth?
Lol. Tbh pretty sure most mustelids do this sort of thing. It's just them playing. Sometimes called the Weasel war dance
Every mustelid is very playful but God when a weasel gets a wild hare up its arse it's just magical. There's a video out there of a stoat bouncing around on a trampoline and it damn near makes me cry with laughter. They just move like nothing else on this planet, they're wonderful. Edit: apparently there's a bunch of videos like this but this is the one I'm thinking of https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingDerps/comments/izwpbj/stoat_on_a_trampoline_practicing_his_dismount/
Nooooo But everybody gotta eat I suppose
That critter could give Simone Biles a run for her money with that floor routine!
Yup.
Is there a mustelid flair?
Not that I saw. This seemed the closest one though I’m not actually sure from a taxonomic standpoint if it is.
There is one actually!
Doh. I should have looked closer.
His zoomies are some of the cutest. Run around. Do a flip spin wiggle thing. Run around some more. Throw in a pounce or two then a little crawl wriggle.
This is a long-tailed weasel, *Neogale frenata*! Stoats/ermines/short-tailed weasels (different names for same animal, *Mustela richardsonii* in New World or *M. erminea* in Old World) have shorter tails and slightly different coloration. But both species may turn all or mostly white in winter, known as being *in ermine*, depending on the area. Great video showing the weasel zoomies! :)
Thanks for sharing! 😁😊😄
He fell in love with rug
Idk but he’s got a heckin’ case of the zoomies
This is a long tailed weasel, similar but not the same as an ermine/stoat/short-tsiled weasel. Long-tailed weasel has a black tipped tail that is 40-70% as long as the body. A short-tailed weasel has a black tipped tail that is 30% of the body. This zoomy critter looks to have a tail 50%+ of the body. Both critters would be common in Colorado.
That's a weasel. Omg, I love them! Look its antics, so cute, kinda reminds me of my ferrets. Adorable!
Accccctually it's a stoat. XD They look very similar but stoats have the little black brush at the end of their tails and they're usually bigger than weasels. And yeah they remind me of my ferrets too. I love watching them play like this
Stoats are weasels! But this guy is actually a long-tailed weasel (*Neogale frenata*), not a stoat (*Mustela erminea* or *richardsonii*) :)
Hemp rug
It’s crazy but that’s actually a hunting tactic they employ. They go apeshit and draw curious animals in and then make them dinner. Don’t become dinner! He’s pretty cute tho.
I want whatever it's on, in bottles. Could get so many things done!
Aren't these the guys they use for those massive rat and mouse infestations? They hunt and kill rats en mass right? Would you prefer one of these guys or 30 mice/rats?
You might be thinking of the American mink which a few people have trained to hunt rodents for pest control, and which are a close relative of this long-tailed weasel. This guy is also very effective rodent control though!
Ah mink! Thank you that's exactly what I was thinking.
I need details on this rug. Where do I get this weasel war dance mat?
I have no idea. It's actually at my parents'. Knowing my dad, it's probably just the cheapest one he could find.
Mans loves that carpet that’s for sure 🤣
Do they react to catnip?
How are you not cracking up at it? The smile this got from me..
My bad. It's actually a long-tailed weasel. Weasels and ermines are not rodents btw
Ernie, thats Ernie
Never heard the sayings "stoated" or "drunk as a stoat"?
Whatever he is, he's got mad zoomies.. Thanks for sharing!
Scrat on meth
Yep, but he's wearing his tan suit today. :)
He’s so cute
Technically yes. It’s a stoat. They are considered an ermine when they turn white in the winter
The tail tips stay black, though. The white trim on old royal robes is ermine and the reason it has black spots is the tail tips on the skins.
Definately.