Found across the Himalayas, the Altai Mountains, Tibet, Mongolia, Korea, and parts of China and Russia, this elusive mustelid is perfectly adapted to life in rugged, cold environments where few other carnivores dare to roam. Its coat changes with the seasons, an adaptation that makes it an expert in camouflage. In summer, it sports a yellowish-brown coat with a pale underside, blending into dry grasslands and rocky slopes. Come winter, in many parts of its range, it turns nearly pure white, becoming almost invisible in snow. This transformation not only hides it from predators like raptors and foxes but also gives it the edge in stalking prey. Its small size, flexible body, and short legs allow it to slip through burrows and crevices, where it often hunts rodents like pikas, voles, and marmots. In fact, the mountain weasel plays a key role in regulating rodent populations in alpine ecosystems.

Despite its solitary nature, the mountain weasel is bold and active. It can take on prey nearly its own size, using its sharp teeth and quick reflexes to deliver a precise killing bite. It is also an agile climber and capable of moving swiftly across steep rocky slopes or darting under snow.

Unlike many predators, it doesn’t stalk silently for long—it often rushes its prey in bursts of energy, a blur of fur and teeth. Its winter-white coat once earned it the nickname “snow weasel” in the Himalayas. And though small, it is astonishingly resilient, living in habitats that range from dry alpine meadows at 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) to cold conifer forests in Siberia.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Afghanistan

2015

Presence Uncertain

Bhutan

2015

China

2015

India

2015

Kazakhstan

2015

Kyrgyzstan

2015

Mongolia

2015

Nepal

2015

North Korea

2015

Presence Uncertain

Pakistan

2015

Russia

2015

Tajikistan

2015