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The weasel (Mustela nivalis) is one of the world's smallest carnivores and takes advantage of its size and streamlined shape to follow its prey down burrows. It pursues mice, rabbits, and voles and has a reputation for being a relentless hunter, partly because it needs to eat one third of its body weight each day to survive.

The weasel is very similar to the stoat in appearance but smaller and without the black tip to the tail. Both weasels and stoats living in northern lands turn white during winter.

Young weasels, which are cared for by their mother for 9-12 weeks, can kill prey when they are only 8 weeks old.

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