Ecology siberian weasel (Mustela sibiricus Pall., 1773) Yakutia

The distribution of Siberian weasel in Yakutia is mostly confined to floodplains and the banks of oxbow lakes, to developing post-fire areas and to the valleys of small rivers and it rare in the forests. Unlike in other regions of Russia, Siberian weasel avoids proximity to human housing. The basis of diet consist mammals from 90 to 97.9%. After voles (from 50.6 to 63.0%), the second in Siberian weasel diet is the Muskrat (from 28.3 to 38.2 %) in the last 15-20 years. Males were dominated for 28 hunt seasons in the bioassays among adult animals and yearlings (in average, among adults, males accounted 62.9% and females 37.1 %). Fertility was from 4 to 6 cubs. 3 helminth species were found, 1 cestode species and 2 species of nematode, infestation was low (17.4 %). Since 1990, Siberian weasel is almost no hunted in Yakutia. For example, in period 1941-1949, 9.9 thousand skins on average were made and 2 thousands in 2000-2009. Decrease of skin production relates to decrease in the number of Siberian weasel and the absence of its hunt due to low purchase prices for skins. The influence of the Sable on Siberian Weasel number is relatively small because of their different habitats.