Yuri Gorbenko, a resident of the village of Ananyevo and an active leisure enthusiast, shared his impressions: “We decided to spend the New Year holidays in the mountains, enjoying nature. While walking through the snow-covered forest, suddenly an ermine jumped out from the bushes — a small and quick predator. It seemed to be intrigued by the noise we were making as we moved through the quiet winter forest.”
Ecologist Alexander Sosnovsky spoke about the ermine: “This predator is widely distributed across Kyrgyzstan and appears to be nature's creation for combating rodents. In summer, its fur is ochre-brown, while its underside is white. In winter, however, it is completely white, with only the tip of its tail being black. The ermine is the smallest representative of the weasel family and predatory mammals in Kyrgyzstan. The least weasel weighs about 100 grams, while the ermine reaches 200 grams. Despite its small size, this little creature is a real disaster for mouse-like rodents. Unlike other predators that can be driven into burrows, the ermine hunts them even there. It does not leave mice and rats alone, neither day nor night, and even after satiation, it continues to hunt. Sometimes, its caches of trophies are found: under stones, one can discover up to a dozen field voles, with only their brains eaten. The ermine stalks its prey, penetrating into the thickets of the forest and high mountains. In winter, this agile predator spends time under the snow near rodents, leading to a significant decrease in their numbers by spring. Interestingly, in the past, ermine fur was used to create mantles symbolizing royal grandeur, requiring hundreds of pelts from these animals.”
