LONG-TAILED WEASEL
(Mustela frenata)
Description
The long-tailed weasel belongs to the Mustelid family, a group of mammals known for their long bodies, short legs, and strong scent glands. The Latin name is Mustela frenata refers to a bridle-like mask that is characteristic of weasel populations in the United States, but lacking in South Dakota weasels. The Lakota word for weasel is (h)itunkasan. In summer the long-tailed weasel is brown with white underparts and brownish feet. The tail, the longest of any North American weasel, is brown with a black tip. This black tip confuses predators into mistaking the tail for the head, thereby drawing the focus of an attack away from the vulnerable portion of the body.