Observations of a captive least weasel (Mustela nivalis) from Ottawa County, Kansas.

dc.contributor.author	Smith, Keith I.
dc.date.accessioned	2012-12-11T14:58:49Z
dc.date.available	2012-12-11T14:58:49Z
dc.date.created	1980	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-12-11
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2260
dc.description	vii, 47 leaves	en_US
dc.description.abstract	Mustela nivalis is an uncommon mustelid in Kansas. Collection records for the state reveal that only 25 specimens have been collected since the first record in 1964. A live specimen obtained from Ottawa County, Kansas was observed for 487 days. Study of this captive least weasel involved recording coat color changes, scat description, kill methods and food consumption. The captive weasel undenvent a spring color change, an incomplete fall color change and a complete return to summer pelage. The study verified that Kansas specimens of M. nivalis exhibit individual variation in seasonal pelage change; all Kansas specimens do not change from summer brown to winter white pelage and an individual (the study specimen) varied in pelage from year to year.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	Mustela nivalis-Observations.	en_US
dc.subject	Weasels-Observations.	en_US
dc.title	Observations of a captive least weasel (Mustela nivalis) from Ottawa County, Kansas.	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US
dc.college	las	en_US
dc.advisor	Dwight L. Spencer	en_US
dc.department	biological sciences	en_US