Long-tailed Weasel in its winter coat, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahLong-tailed Weasel in its winter coat – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

A couple years ago I missed being able to photograph a Long-tailed Weasel in its white winter coat because I was sick and stuck at home. Today I spotted a Long-tailed Weasel in its winter coat but the light wasn’t great and the whole area was socked in by fog. I did get some images of the little mustelid but I sure wish I would have had better light. It popped up a few times on top of some rocks and looked around.

Long-tailed Weasel near a burrow of some kind, Farmington Bay WMA, UtahLong-tailed Weasel in winter coat near a burrow of some kind – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

When I was editing this image I realized there was a burrow of some kind about a foot to the left of the weasel’s hind leg. It is that dark spot that has a gray rock at the 2 o’clock position and a orange colored rock at the 5 o’clock position. Long-tailed Weasels don’t usually dig their own burrows so I suspect this might be a vole burrow and voles are a prey species for the weasels.  This weasel moved fast and it was a challenge tracking it with my lens.

Long-tailed Weasel standing up in its winter coat, Farmington Bay WMA, UtahLong-tailed Weasel standing up showing its winter coat – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

These aren’t the images I had hoped for of a Long-tailed Weasel in its white winter coat but I am thrilled to have these. I don’t see Long-tailed Weasels all that often.

An interesting fact about Long-tailed Weasels is that they mate between July and August and because of delayed implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall they don’t give birth until 10 months later with embryonic development of the kits occurring only during the last four weeks of the gestation period. I think that is fascinating.

These little creatures have weaseled their way into my heart.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Long-tailed Weasel photos plus facts and information about this species.