The short-tailed weasel is the most abundant weasel in Wisconsin. At around a foot long, the short-tailed weasel is smaller than the long-tailed weasel and has a 2-4 inch tail with a black tip. They are similar in color to the long-tailed and, like the long-tailed, their fur may turn white in the winter. Long-tailed and short-tailed weasels can be difficult to tell apart, but in most parts of the state the short-tailed weasel is the most likely to be seen. Tail length is the only good way to distinguish between the two, but it can be challenging to tell in the wild. Like most members of the weasel family, they are nocturnal, and they consume similar prey to the long-tailed weasel. Weasels may be trapped year-round by those possessing a valid trapping license.
