Orange Long-tailed Boi – The Japanese weasel

During one of my mountain adventures, a flash of orange fur zipped through the trees my first encounter with one of Japan’s most charming little residents: the Japanese weasel. Native to the entire archipelago, this critter is a close cousin of the Siberian weasel and is instantly recognisable by its year-round, fiery orange coat. Fun fact: these weasels were brought to Hokkaido in the late 1800s to join the anti-rat brigade. Don’t let those short legs fool you; their sharp claws are serious business, perfect for snatching up frogs, mice, reptiles, and even crayfish. Despite their cuteness, life isn’t all sunshine and scurrying; the average wild weasel only makes it to five years old. On my way back down the mountain just a day later, I saw the bittersweet reality: a little weasel, a victim of the dangers of the road. It’s a tough world out there for these adorable speedsters, and sometimes, even the cutest creatures can’t outrun fate.

This Japanese cutie sports a delightfully bushy tail that’s about 36% of its body length, though its Siberian cousin wins the fluff contest with a whopping 50%. Sadly, Japan’s weasel population has dipped by around 25%, now earning it a “near threatened” status. In response, the government has banned hunting female weasels. One can only imagine the dedication required to pause mid-chase and check if that orange blur is a mister or a miss! (Hint: females tend to be smaller.)

Weasels thrive in forests and love to hang out near water, whether they’re hunting or just grabbing a sip. Both males and females produce a musky scent, a sort of eau de weasel, that broadcasts their gender, age, and even their recent menu choices. These clever little creatures use scent-marking to keep tabs on each other. But don’t expect a weasel party: Japanese weasels are true solo artists, enjoying the single life, except, of course, when it’s time to make even more adorable weasels.

This cutie is a friend of the forest, as they often hunt the animals which feed on tree saplings during the winter, making them the guardians of the forest. During the winter, owls and hibernating snakes are unable to control the rodent population. The weasel will hunt whenever it is hungry, either at night or during the day. The friendly weasel steps in to protect the future of the forest. Interestingly, there is a slight difference in the menu choices of the males and females. Males tend to enjoy more crustaceans and small mammals, whilst females tend to prefer dried insects, fruits and earthworms. These cuties are light eaters and can only eat one mammal at a time in a snack session. Their diets shift according to the season and what is available, but these cuties are intolerant of artificial foods, which is a concern as urbanisation spreads. Unlike foxes, which can scavenge human leftovers, the Japanese weasel has a delicate stomach and prefers only the goodies which the forest provides.

The cuties are very agile and move with caution across open areas, making them difficult to really spot. If you are hoping to catch a glimpse of these orange cuties, you will want to go somewhere quiet and wait for a while before spotting that flash of orange. Those who enjoy hiking may be luckier, as a lot of Japanese hikes traverse the weasel's territory. Mountain roads, too, may present you with the occasional flash or a victim of the road. Sound-wise, if you listen carefully enough, you may hear an array of noises emitted by the Japanese weasel. Ranging from hisses, squeaks, and even barking. These cuties are capable swimmers, and they use their long bodies to corner prey in tunnels. Depending on the size of their prey, they can even use their long bodies to wrap around their prey and attack at close range. Sadly, due to the weasels' liking for chickens, there is some friction between them and farmers.

There are occasions of Weasels hunting prey larger than themselves, such as rabbits; however, this can be a risky choice however as rabbits can cause a lot of damage to weasels with their powerful kicks and bites. Japanese weasels can be found living across Japan; however, they will not be found in areas above about 350 meters above sea level. They are also being slowly driven out of western areas in Japan due to the introduction of the Siberian weasel, which is slowly driving the local weasels out of these areas. Weasels are not found in or near big cities, so if you are hoping to glimpse one, you will need to travel further afield.

To end our blog on a more mystical note, there is a yokai based on the weasel which sports scythe-shaped claws and is said to be as fast as the wind. If someone gets an unexplained cut, especially if it is curved, Japanese locals may blame this yokai.

All in all, this cutie of the forest is one of my favourites, and I hope to see more as I travel up and down the mountain every week.