Home/Species/ Long-tailed Weasel

Neogale frenata

(H. Lichtenstein, 1831)

Long-tailed Weasel

G5Secure Found in 138 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100836

Element CodeAMAJF02030

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

IUCNLeast concern

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassMammalia

OrderCarnivora

FamilyMustelidae

GenusNeogale

COSEWICPS:NAR

Synonyms

Mustela frenataLichtenstein, 1831

Other Common Names

Belette à longue queue (FR) Comedreja Andina (ES) long-tailed weasel (EN)

Concept Reference

Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. [As modified by ASM the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) at https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html]

Taxonomic Comments

Moved from Mustela to Neogale following Patterson et al. (2021).

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2016-04-04

Change Date1996-11-18

Range Extent Comments

Southern Canada, most all of the contiguous U.S., and south to Venezuela and Bolivia, excluding the southwestern deserts of the U.S. (Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993; Sheffield and Thomas 1997).

Threat Impact Comments

Threats include monoculture and "clean" farming and drainage of wetlands. Perhaps affected directly and indirectly by pesticide use (effects on reproduction, habitat, and/or food supply).

Movements of radio-tagged weasels in Indiana were consistent with the notion that long-tailed weasels may be sensitive to agriculturally induced fragmentation of habitat and the importance of maintaining landscape connectivity for species conservation (Gehring and Swihart 2004).

Prairie subspecies longicauda declined significantly in the northern Great Plains in the mid-1900s due to intense agricultural activity, use of pesticides, and habitat degradation, but the subspecies still is widespread and stable in its Canadian range (Johnson et al. 1993).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Found in a wide variety of habitats, usually near water. Favored habitats include brushland and open woodlands, field edges, riparian grasslands, swamps, and marshes (Sheffield, in Wilson and Ruff 1999). Dens are in abandoned burrow made by other mammal, rock crevice, brushpile, stump hollow, or space among tree roots; one individual may use multiple dens. Tolerant of close proximity to humans.

Ecology

Basically solitary, though more social where prey is abundant and habitat optimal. Population density averages 1 per 7-40 acres (Jackson 1961), depending upon habitat and environmental conditions (Baker 1983).

Reproduction

Breeds July-August. Gestation lasts 205-337 days (average 279); implantation delayed. Litter size is 1-12 (average 4-7). In north, one litter is born in April-May; nests with young have been found in November in southeastern U.S. Weaning begins at about 5 weeks. Young begin to disperse at about 11-12 weeks (see Johnson et al. 1993). Females are sexually mature in 3-4 months (in captivity) or usually 2 years in southern Canada (see Johnson et al. 1993), males in about 1 year.

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldDesertCropland/hedgerow

Palustrine Habitats

HERBACEOUS WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDBog/fenRiparian

Other Nations (2)

United StatesN5

Province	Rank	Native
West Virginia	S4	Yes
Pennsylvania	S5	Yes
Alabama	S3	Yes
New Hampshire	S5	Yes
Arizona	S4	Yes
Idaho	S5	Yes
Montana	S5	Yes
Kentucky	S4	Yes
North Carolina	S3	Yes
Georgia	S3	Yes
Navajo Nation	S4	Yes
South Carolina	S2	Yes
Nevada	S5	Yes
Wyoming	S5	Yes
Louisiana	S2	Yes
Illinois	S4	Yes
Iowa	S4	Yes
Tennessee	S5	Yes
Maryland	S5	Yes
Massachusetts	S5	Yes
Oklahoma	S3	Yes
Missouri	S3	Yes
Michigan	S5	Yes
Maine	S5	Yes
Wisconsin	S4	Yes
Arkansas	S3	Yes
Vermont	S3	Yes
New Jersey	S5	Yes
Oregon	S5	Yes
Indiana	S4	Yes
Mississippi	S3	Yes
Colorado	S5	Yes
Rhode Island	S4	Yes
Connecticut	S5	Yes
Ohio	SNR	Yes
California	SNR	Yes
Minnesota	SNR	Yes
South Dakota	S5	Yes
Florida	S5	Yes
Washington	S5	Yes
Delaware	S5	Yes
Texas	S5	Yes
New Mexico	S4	Yes
Virginia	S5	Yes
Kansas	S2	Yes
Nebraska	S2	Yes
District of Columbia	S3	Yes
New York	S5	Yes
North Dakota	S4	Yes
Utah	S4	Yes

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
New Brunswick	S5	Yes
Saskatchewan	S5	Yes
Alberta	S3	Yes
Manitoba	S3	Yes
Quebec	S5	Yes
Ontario	S4	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture	—	—	High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops	—	—	High (continuing)

Roadless Areas (138)

California (29)

Area	Forest	Acres
Castle Crags A	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	113
Castle Crags B	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	1,619
Castle Peak	Tahoe National Forest	14,974
Devil's Gate (CA)	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	9,946
Dinkey Lakes	Sierra National Forest	34,171
Excelsior (CA)	Inyo National Forest	45,607
Garcia Mountain	Los Padres National Forest	7,850
Grindstone	Mendocino National Forest	26,031
Grouse Lakes	Tahoe National Forest	19,085
Hall Natural Area	Inyo National Forest	5,236
Hoover - Green Ck No	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	7,155
Hoover - Mt.olsen	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	624
Hoover - Virginia Lks	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	5,050
Horse Mdw.	Inyo National Forest	5,687
Jennie Lake	Sequoia National Forest	2,388
Machesna Mountain	Los Padres National Forest	12,271
Mt. Jackson	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	20,721
Mt. Eddy	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	7,232
Mt. Olsen	Inyo National Forest	2,161
Mt. Reba	Stanislaus National Forest	3,869
Mt. Shasta B	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	2,809
North Lake	Inyo National Forest	2,406
Orleans Mtn. B	Six Rivers National Forest	17,183
Portuguese	Klamath National Forest	18,915
Raymond Peak	Stanislaus National Forest	3,646
Santa Cruz	Los Padres National Forest	21,182
Table Mtn.	Inyo National Forest	4,215
Tequepis	Los Padres National Forest	9,080
Tioga Lake	Inyo National Forest	829

Colorado (7)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bristol Head	Rio Grande NF	46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent Area	Arapaho & Roosevelt NFs	44,158
Dome Peak	Routt NF	35,716
Long Park	Routt NF	42,100
Pole Mountain / Finger Mesa	Rio Grande NF	43,863
San Miguel	San Juan NF	64,263
Troublesome South	Routt NF	47,359

Idaho (4)

Area	Forest	Acres
Italian Peak	Caribou-Targhee National Forest	141,158
Lemhi Range	Salmon-Challis National Forest	308,533
Needles	Payette National Forest	131,279
Palisades	Caribou-Targhee National Forest	122,002

Louisiana (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Saline Bayou W & S River Corridor	Kisatchie National Forest	5,355

Montana (19)

Area	Forest	Acres
Allen Peak #185	Kootenai National Forest	29,638
Anaconda Hill	Helena National Forest	18,546
Barren Creek #183	Kootenai National Forest	14,534
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Lolo National Forest	118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Helena National Forest	51,360
Beartooth	Gallatin National Forest	5,285
Bridger	Gallatin National Forest	45,059
Crazy Mountain	Gallatin National Forest	82,093
Freezeout Mountain	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	97,305
Gallatin Fringe	Gallatin National Forest	51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area	Gallatin National Forest	143,991
Italian Peak	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	90,401
Madison	Gallatin National Forest	127,859
Mcgregor - Thompson	Lolo National Forest	27,211
Mckenzie Canyon	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	33,350
North Absaroka	Gallatin National Forest	159,075
Reef	Gallatin National Forest	2,500
Silver King	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	64,289
Timber Butte	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	5,300

Nevada (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Pearl Peak	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	71,405
Rose - Galena	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	3,711
Ruby - Lamoille Cyn	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	32,771
Ruby - Thompson	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	5,289
South Schell	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	125,614

New Mexico (6)

Area	Forest	Acres
Canada Bonito RNA	Santa Fe National Forest	487
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study Area	Carson National Forest	43,739
Cruces Basin	Carson National Forest	5,244
Holy Ghost	Santa Fe National Forest	2,352
Pecos WS River	Santa Fe National Forest	5,396
Wheeler Peak Wilderness	Carson National Forest	2,677

North Carolina (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Graveyard Ridge (addition)	Pisgah National Forest	1,958

Oregon (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Imnaha Face	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	29,575
Myrtle Silvies	Malheur National Forest	11,679

Tennessee (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Devil's Backbone	Cherokee National Forest	4,287

Utah (26)

Area	Forest	Acres
0401023	Ashley National Forest	8,352
0401032	Ashley National Forest	6,471
418025	Uinta National Forest	32,698
418040	Uinta National Forest	1,702
Bullion - Delano	Fishlake National Forest	14,917
Bunker Creek	Dixie National Forest	7,474
Burch Creek	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	6,938
City Creek	Fishlake National Forest	13,939
Fishhook	Dixie National Forest	12,959
Fishlake Mountain	Fishlake National Forest	25,217
Gibson	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	5,350
Lava Beds	Dixie National Forest	14,944
Lewis Peak	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	11,616
Mahogany Range	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	11,409
Mollens Hollow	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	17,690
Mt. Aire	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	9,681
Mt. Naomi	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	41,922
Mt. Olympus	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	9,982
Right Hand Fork Logan	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	15,023
Signal Peak	Fishlake National Forest	30,889
Stansbury Mountains	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	39,696
Sugar Pine	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	5,600
Temple Peak	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	24,081
Tushar Mountain	Fishlake National Forest	39,992
Twin Peaks	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	6,157
White Pine	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	1,942

Vermont (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bread Loaf	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests	1,768

Washington (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bald Snow	Colville National Forest	23,198
Mt. Bonaparte	Okanogan National Forest	10,891

West Virginia (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area	Monongahela National Forest	785
Tea Creek Mountain	Monongahela National Forest	8,295
Turkey Mountain	Monongahela National Forest	6,421

Wisconsin (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
09161 - Gates Lake	Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest	5,255
09162 - Moose	Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest	6,161

Wyoming (29)

Area	Forest	Acres
Beartooth Proposed Wilderness	Shoshone National Forest	16,837
Bridger Peak	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	6,697
Deep Creek	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	6,411
French Creek	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	5,928
Grayback Ridge	Bridger-Teton National Forest	295,113
Gros Ventre Mountains	Bridger-Teton National Forest	106,418
Libby Flats	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	11,107
Middle Fork	Shoshone National Forest	51,772
Middle Fork	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	13,238
Monument Ridge	Bridger-Teton National Forest	17,720
Munger Mountain	Bridger-Teton National Forest	12,827
Pacific Creek - Blackrock Creek	Bridger-Teton National Forest	24,658
Palisades	Targhee National Forest	1,121
Pat O'hara	Shoshone National Forest	10,912
Reef	Shoshone National Forest	16,817
Salt River Range	Bridger-Teton National Forest	235,661
Singer Peak	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	10,498
Sleeping Giant	Shoshone National Forest	5,176
Snowy Range	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	29,660
South Beartooth Highway	Shoshone National Forest	105,570
South Wyoming Range	Bridger-Teton National Forest	85,776
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre River	Bridger-Teton National Forest	166,097
Sulphur Creek	Shoshone National Forest	30,221
Teton Corridor Trailheads	Bridger-Teton National Forest	286
Togwotee Pass	Shoshone National Forest	7,344
Wapiti Valley East	Shoshone National Forest	449
West Slope Tetons	Targhee National Forest	47,448
West Slope Winds	Bridger-Teton National Forest	143,252
Wilderness Study Area	Targhee National Forest	51,961

References (32)

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Neogale frenata

Habitat

Ecology

Reproduction

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