Ermine is a small carnivore of the weasel family, family in which one finds also the weasel, marten, badger, polecat, ... Due to its small size, the ermine is the second smallest carnivore in Europe, just behind its cousin the weasel. The ermine is in the Jura mountains, especially on the plateaus of Doubs, an environment conducive to its development: grassland farming lined many hurdles.
The ermine has the characteristic of changing color in winter. It then presents a beautiful white dress on the entire body except the tip of its tail remains black throughout the year. The white color allows it to be very discreet on a snowy ground, thus avoiding attracting the attention of its many predators
Molting of the ermine is held in March / April, sooner or later depending on the individual. It would be a longer day length that triggers molting. It may happen that during an early thaw, the snow disappears, so that even the ermine's winter coat. In this case, the ermine is recognizable from far away ...
Conversely, with the snow tradives spring, we can meet in an ermine robe on a dark snowy ground. In this case also, the ermine is recognizable from afar. Beware of predators of all kinds.
The duration of the molt is also variable: only a few days to two weeks or more. Molting generally starts from the head before spreading to the rest of the body. Only the chest and belly of the ermine does not change color. The evolution of molt is also differ between individuals, the color change can be gradual over the whole body or area giving a mottled pelache.
One of the characteristic attitudes of the ermine is the position known as "chandellier" When vegetation or terrain does not allow him to see far enough, ermine stands on its hind legs.

Hyper-active when it is on the surface, ermine does not in place. The wildlife photographer will be equipped with a reflex box with an auto-focus performance and a long focal length (500mm) has kept the size of the fine which is only 20cm long without the tail. The boxes allow recent high rise isos are also expected to benefit freeze the movements of small mustelid. In the blink of an eye, the ermine can disappear in the hole, putting nerves strained by the photographer ... The opportunities to make an image with the entire body, including the tail, are rare. These are opportunities not to be missed.
The ermine spends most of its life underground in the tunnels of voles. They therefore offer him both food and shelter, as the ermine eats mainly micro-rodent. The stoat and weasel are certainly the best allies of farmers against devastating outbreaks of voles grassland plateaus of the Doubs and Jura. The observations show his ruthless efficiency, especially during the feeding of young, which can bring back to its burrow several rodents in minutes (up to 10 voles in less than an hour!). What other predator can boast of such efficiency?
The ermine has many predators, they come from the ground or air: Raptors of all kinds, mulotage heron, fox, feral cat or forestry ... So I have been several attacks of tube: floor-standing, waiting patiently for the raptor out of the ermine before trying to grasp with these greenhouses. But fortunately for the beautiful, she has a prodigious speed of movement, making its capture difficult. But cases of predation, however, are not uncommon. The ermine usually comes timidly from his hole, while scanning the air, before leaving completely. It is better to be cautious with the many raptors present in the region.
Finally, a few other photographs of the beautiful ermine of Jura's mountains:

© Fabien Greban - wildlife photography
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