The weasel (Mustela nivalis) is a small carnivore native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa. It has a slender, elongated body with relatively short legs. Its back is brown, while its belly is white. It feeds mainly on mice, but it can also hunt rabbits, other small mammals, birds, birds’ eggs, fish and frogs. The subspecies Mustela nivalis boccamela, which is relatively larger, is found in Majorca and Minorca. It is not native to our islands, as it was introduced by the Romans, probably to control rabbit populations (which are also not native). It is believed to have contributed to the extinction of lizards on the main islands, as well as the Menorcan shrew. It has also affected populations of field mice and cellar rats. Therefore, it was a key species in the ecosystems of the Balearic Islands, and surely continues to be so.
