Stoat changes color from white to brown during molting

Changing colours

Stoat / Hermelin

This is a stoat who is in the process of going from white to brown. This is called molting. They are white in the winter to blend in better with the snow, and they turn brown again when spring arrives. The only thing that remains the same is the tip of their tail which is black.

Spring is also the most dangerous time for stoats, especially when they are still completely white. They stand out so much and that makes them an easier target for larger predators such as foxes, owls and pine martens.

It also makes it more difficult for them to catch mice, since it’s much harder for the stoat to sneak up on them.
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National Geographic