The three most common weasels in North America are the least, the short-tailed and the long-tailed: The least is the smallest of all, weighing just a few ounces when fully grown and seldom more than six inches long, plus a one-inch stubby tail. It is quite pretty—its back a light brown, changing to white at its throat, stomach, the inside of its legs and its feet. During winter those in the far north turn completely white, but those in the south become a spotted brown mixed with the white. These are provisions of the Creator to conceal them from enemies.
This little one is a real help to mankind, because its appetite for mice and other small, destructive animals helps to keep these under control. Mice represent its favorite food and are easily caught since this weasel is so small it can follow them through any hole.
The short-tailed is often called an ermine. This one is twice the size of the least. During summer it is a soft brown along the back and sides, but creamy white underneath. Strangely, it is the only one with brown feet. When it turns all white in winter it is hunted for its pretty fur.
It also hunts mice, rats, moles, squirrels, birds and snakes. The Creator has given it instincts to arrange rooms in its burrow for storing food for cold winter days and to know how to prevent this food from spoiling.
The long-tailed is the largest of all, measuring up to 18 inches, plus a black-tipped tail about half that length. Even so the males weigh only about a pound and the females even less.
It makes its home throughout Canada and the United States, except for hot desert areas, and hunts day and night for its food. It is a great climber, often chasing its prey (which rarely gets away) out to the end of a tree limb. It is the fiercest of the three and will even attack a dog or a man if cornered.
Bold hunters themselves, all weasels have numerous enemies, including hawks, owls, foxes, wildcats and coyotes. But with their thin bodies and speed they usually escape by diving into a nearby burrow, a narrow crevice in a rock, or under a pile of brush.
All these animals are unaware of God's care, and He does not hold them accountable, but provides for them as a gracious Creator. However, every human has been given an intellect and a conscience and God has given the Bible for a guide. We are told, "Let them... commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:1919Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19). This means we should not only trust our bodies to Him, but accept Him as our Savior to be sure our eternal life is safe in Him. Have you done this?