These solitary mammals live about 10 years in captivity. Ermine or Short-tailed Weasels live in the Arctic tundra of North America and Europe. Weasels have very short legs, a long snout, big eyes, and a long, slender body.
Males are larger than females.
These weasels have brown to yellow-brown fur with paler fur on the belly. The tip of the tail is often black. They grow white fur in the winter, but the tip of the tail remains black. When an animal chases the weasel, it will often chase the black tail tip and miss catching the weasel. They are ferocious hunters who find prey primarily by using their keen sense of smell.