Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Neogale frenata
Most of the Lower 48 and southern Canada. Brown in summer, white in northern winters, with a black tail tip. Tiny paired tracks, often just two dots side by side in snow.
What does a long-tailed weasel look like?
A long thin body, brown above and cream below, black tail tip. White in winter in the North.
What do long-tailed weasel tracks look like?
The smallest common mustelid trail. In snow it is a line of paired dimples, sometimes vanishing into a tunnel.
- Tiny paired tracks, often just two dots side by side in snow
- Print about 0.5 to 1 inch
- A bounding lope that tunnels into snow
- Black tip on the tail if seen
- Often near stone walls, brush, and rodent burrows
What does long-tailed weasel poop look like?
Tiny twisted droppings with rodent hair. Rarely the clue. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Most of the Lower 48 and southern Canada. Brown in summer, white in northern winters, with a black tail tip. Typical places: field, woods, yard. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- American mink identification
- American marten identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
What do weasel tracks look like?
Tiny paired prints in a bounding line, often disappearing under the snow.
How to tell a long-tailed weasel from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- American mink. Follows the water. Long dark brown body, white chin patch, no pale bib like a marten.
- American marten. A reduced fisher trail: same 2-2 lope, smaller prints, more time on logs and in dense conifer. House-cat sized, brown, with a pale bib.
Long-tailed weasel field marks
- Tiny paired tracks, often just two dots side by side in snow
- Print about 0.5 to 1 inch
- A bounding lope that tunnels into snow
- Black tip on the tail if seen
Where the sign shows up
Most of the Lower 48 and southern Canada. Brown in summer, white in northern winters, with a black tail tip. Typical places: field, woods, yard. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
The smallest common mustelid trail. In snow it is a line of paired dimples, sometimes vanishing into a tunnel. Tiny twisted droppings with rodent hair. Rarely the clue.
Common questions
What do weasel tracks look like?
Tiny paired prints in a bounding line, often disappearing under the snow.