Meet my friend the stoat

During our morning walk, we literally ran into an ermine (aka stoat, or Mustela erminea ) that was stealthy crossing our pass with its all-white call except for the black tip of its tail.

I have seen ermines many time while skiing on the mountain, but never spotted one near Park City houses. The ten inch long carnivore that prey on mice, but also on much larger rabbits, was once prized for its fur that changes with the season. 

According to Wikipedia, the white winter fur is very dense and silky, but quite closely lying and short, while the summer fur is rougher, shorter and sparse. In summer, the fur is sandy-brown on the back and head and a white below. 

The stoat moults or sheds twice a year. In spring, the shedding is slow, starting from the forehead, across the back, toward the belly. In autumn, the process is quicker, progressing in reverse order. The change in coat color, initiated by seasonal change in daylight, starts earlier in autumn and later in spring, at higher latitudes. 

In northern or snowy habitat, like Park City, it adopts a completely white coat (except for its characteristic black tail-tip) during winter which provides them with the perfect camouflage!