North america and eurasia winter ermine turns white for camouflage

North America and Eurasia, this sleek little predator is an ermine, also known as a stoat or short-tailed weasel. In winter, an ermine’s fur turns pure white—except for the black tip on its tail—to blend into the snowy landscape and stay hidden from predators and prey alike. In the warmer months, their fur changes back to brown, helping them disappear into forests and fields.

Don’t let its small size fool you, the ermine is a fearless hunter. In order to stay agile and lean to be able to pursue their prey, ermines need to eat at least 40% of their body weight in a day. They’ll often kill more than they can eat in a single sitting to be able to feed later, and have been found with dozens of dead mice and voles in their dens.

National Geographic