4 Legs, No Wings!

We headed into Canatara this afternoon in hopes of finding some butterflies. It was during the pursuit of an uncooperative Eastern Comma when Deryl spotted a Long-tailed Weasel! This species has a tail which is longer than half its body length, with a black tip.

If he hadn't been trying to cross the path on which we were standing, we probably wouldn't have had a chance to photograph the little guy.

They live in abandoned burrows of other animals, rotting logs or under tree roots and rocks. They are most active at night but will come out in the day. The Long-tailed weasel can climb trees and is a good swimmer.  

(https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/longtailedweasel.htm)

Long-tailed Weasels are carnivores with a high rate of metabolism. They consume about 40% of their body weight every day!  Mice, voles, rabbits, chipmunks, insects and the occasional bird are included in the diet. It's long, thin body makes it easy to follow prey into underground burrows. (https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/longtailedweasel.htm)