Stoats move in a sinuous manner when pursuing its prey. It is extremely quick over the ground considering its small size
the stoat is built long and slender, making it one of the few species able to follow burrowing animals into their own homes

It partly compensates for this shape by having short legs, small ears, a fast metabolism and, in winter, thick fur
Stoats may grow up to 30 cm long, with males much larger than the females

In most areas it co exists with the weasel the smallest member of order Carnivora
Where the weasel is absent the stoat is smaller

The stoat's coat is a rich red-brown with tan or off white belly,the tail has a conspicuous black tip
In winter, the coat is thicker, and in warmer areas it remains brown

in regions that experience an inch or more of snow for at least forty days of the year
the color changes to white, the black tip to the tail remains. This white fur is known as Ermine
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Weasel
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The weasel is Britain's smallest carnivore and belongs to the same family as the stoat and otter
It is a fierce hunter and is usually only spotted as a long, thin tan coloured streak as it runs across a road or woodland path

one weasel may eat hundreds of mice in a year, it should be looked on as a useful friend, doing more good than harm
Cats, owls, foxes and birds of prey will all try to kill weasels, although a weasel will fight hard to defend itself

A weasel hunts mainly by scent and investigates every likely hole and crevice it comes across
It is small enough to follow its favourite prey voles and mice down into their underground runs
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