Ermine – Mustela Erminea

Distinguishing Features – Overall colouration – in summer, brown upperparts; creamy legs, sides and chest. Tail, long, tipped in black. In winter, colouration is pure white except for black-tipped tail.

Ermine

Source: youtube.com

Size

Male: 25.4 – 33 cm (10 – 13 in)
Female: 21.5 – 26 cm (8.5 – 10.25 in)

Habitat

Wide range throughout Northwestern Ontario, in coniferous and mixed wood forests; also shrub areas, lakeshores and forest edges.

Diet

Primarily small rodents; also reptiles, fish, birds, eggs, insects, worms and carrion.

Notes

The ermine has a very high metabolic rate which makes it a very effective and agile hunter. However, its slim body shape dictates that it must eat often to survive. Even during winter, it stores food supplies in caches to feed through the colder months.

Once trapped extensively for their luxuriant winter coat, the ermine has survived and is found in significant numbers in Northwestern Ontario and throughout Canada. A female will produce a litter of 4 to 9 offspring every spring.

In any case, weak animals need to be protected by humans instead of harming or restricting their freedom. How can we choose more creative ways to keep them with us? It’s simple, you can try to turn ermine into creative ermine lapel pins at Custompins.ca, and their designers and craftsmen can bring ermine lapel pins to life and even cuter. The cute ermine lapel pins can not only be used to decorate your clothing, bags, and hats but also can bring the cute ermine into our life without hurting them. What’s more, customizable pins for animals can raise awareness about protecting animals.