Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, September 25, 1994                   TAG: 9411080058
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: EXTR5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PATRICIA HELD
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE WEASEL'S NOT ALL THAT BAD A VILLAIN; IT'S IN BALANCE WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT

Now think of a weasel; we picture a slinky, cunning creature, viciously grabbing a helpless animal. Yet the ermine and weasel are one and the same, the former being the animal's winter stage.

The weasel is an animal of contrasts. On one hand it is often considered a troublesome pest, yet with its handsome white fur coat in winter, it is indeed a pretty sight.

Virginia boasts three weasel species. The most common is the long-tailed weasel, which is found throughout the state. Less common is the short-tailed weasel, which has a range in the western area. The rarest of the state's weasels is the least weasel. This animal's range is spotty in the Piedmont and western portions of Virginia.

The weasel is a member of the Mustelidae family, which includes many species, all with one particular trait in common: Members are highly successful predators, with a stubborn fierceness, lethal agility and astounding strength for their size. This trait has contributed to the family's success in almost every habitat.

Family members are equipped with an anal musk gland, which is responsible for the name Mustelidae. When disturbed, the animals emit an odor that fends off would-be predators. The skunk is best known for this gland.

Other members of this family include the marten, wolverine, fisher, ferret, mink, otter and badger. It is a vigorous group whose members have dispersed themselves into all conceivable areas of the environment, from the wolverine's timberline habitat to the mink and otter's homes by the water.

They vary in size as well: The least weasel is about as big as a chubby field mouse, while the king of weasels, the wolverine, is the size of a young bear and has enough power to bring down a moose in deep snow.

Weasels are slender, long-bodied mammals with small flattened heads and rounded ears. Their color varies, depending upon latitude, altitude and heredity as well as the season. Weasels molt in the spring and fall. Their molt is triggered by the amount of daylight hours in a 24 -hour period. In autumn, as daylight hours diminish, production of a hormone drops in the weasel's body. The result is lighter hair. As the cold sets in, in their more northerly ranges, their fur turns white. Then they are called ermine.

Weasels are nocturnal animals, yet it is not unusual to spot one hunting during the day. They are active year round, but hole up in a protected spot if the weather is severe. While the weasel's occasional visit to the chicken house gives it a terrible reputation, its diet consist primarily of other mammals, especially rodents. Known for its boundless appetite, the weasel will consume one third of its body weight a day.

Weasels depend on speed, agility and the element of surprise. They will kill animals larger than themselves and sometimes kill more than they need. They will go into a killing frenzy when a lot of prey is available. This is typical in the spring when they have young, and in autumn, to prepare for winter.

Because weasels are such unusual predators, they have earned a bad reputation. People consider them crafty and vicious. Even books on natural history describe them as "bloodthirsty killing machines who will kill out of sheer pleasure."

However, like most other predators, weasels are in dynamic balance with their prey, and their predatory traits help regulate the rodent population for a healthier, balanced environment.

Special note: On Oct. 8, Liberty University will host the annual fall meeting of the Virginia Herpetological Society, which is dedicated to conservation, research and education concerning amphibians and reptiles. Three workshops on amphibians and reptiles will be offered. These meetings are free, and the public is invited.

One workshop on turtles and one on snakes will be presented by the Blue Ridge Herpetological Society. The workshop on amphibians will be presented by Michael Hayslett of Lynchburg's Department of Parks and Recreation. All three workshops will be in Science Hall. They will begin at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11 a.m.

All programs are directed toward children. Call the biology department (582-2209) at Liberty University if you have questions or need additional information.