It has the most valuable pelt of all weasels.
Sables range from eastern Russia across Siberia and Mongolia to Hokkaido, in northern Japan.
Its fur ranges from dark brown to almost black, with a grayish-yellow patch on the throat. Its coat does not change to white in winter, as do those of some animals. Due to the demand for the fur, trappers have killed off sables in the western and southwestern Russian range. Sables are rare almost everywhere. The Russian government has closed the trapping season several times and has tested successfully with raising sables.