Many people would think of a weasel when they see the little bundle of fur speeding across the vast open fields. This animal is actually called the short-tailed weasel, or stoat. The ermine is a very small carnivorous mammal that always seems to be having fun. He is very fast for his size and quite agile when running at high speeds. Stoats are bold, witty and playful wild creatures. The stoat is part of the group of species considered “least concerned” by the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Even though they are one of the least affected species, as humans continue to hunt them for their fur, they could become one of the vulnerable species. Stoats are small compared to the world as a whole. There are a lot of things that many people don't know when it comes to his loved ones and his lifestyle. For example, stoats were introduced to New Zealand in the 1800s because the rabbit population was beginning to become a problem and stoats are also considered harmful to wildlife (Mustela erminea, 2013). Over the years, the species has spread all over the world. Ermine can now be found in places like Canada, Asia, the northern United States, and even arctic regions. There are also many species belonging to the same subfamily. For example, other species in the same subfamily as the stoat are ferrets, minks, and long-tailed weasels. There are others as well, but these three have many similar characteristics to the ermine, so it's pretty easy to see that they are all related in some way. There are also wolverines that do not look at all like ermine, but they are both still related to each other because they belong to the same family (Loso, 2013). . middle of paper ......tion , 242-246.Geptner, VG (1998). Mammals of the Soviet Union. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Libraries [etc.] Loso, H. (November 7, 2013). Mustela erminea. Retrieved from Animal Diversity Web: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mustela_erminea/#2643cc98d50e48aeb1d64abae8c3a3e4Mustela erminea. (November 7, 2013). Retrieved from the Red List: http://maps.iucnredlist.org/map.html?id=29674Paterek, J. (1994). Encyclopedia of Native American Costume. Denver, CO: ABC-CLIO. Ruff, S.D. (1999). The Smithsonian Book of Mammals of North America. In SD Ruff, The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. Tlingit ermine skin shirt (Daa dugu k'oodas'). (2014, 4 3). Excerpt from Daa dugu k'oodas: http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/IH011277/tlingit-ermineskin-shirt-daa-dugu-koodas