Stoats are small mammals belonging to the weasel family, known scientifically as Mustela erminea. They have a slender body, short legs, and a long tail, typically measuring about 12 to 30 inches in length, including the tail. Their fur is brown in summer and turns white in winter, except for the black tip of the tail. Stoats are found across Europe, Asia, and North America, often inhabiting forests, grasslands, and tundra. These agile predators primarily feed on small rodents, birds, and rabbits. Stoats are known for their hunting skills and can take down prey larger than themselves. They are solitary animals and are most active during dawn and dusk, using their keen senses to navigate and hunt in their environment.