American Ermine (Mustela richardsonii) is in the Mustelids family (Mustelidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,429 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Ermine: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Ermine
The American ermine or short-tailed weasel (Mustela richardsonii) is a species of mustelid native to most of North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Ermine by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 184 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 170 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Vermont | 107 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Colorado | 101 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Washington | 92 | July | May–Oct |
| Michigan | 88 | June | May–Aug |
| New York | 86 | July | Mar–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 82 | May | May–Aug |
| Oregon | 79 | July | May–Sep |
| Maine | 70 | May | May–Dec |
| California | 56 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 52 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Montana | 32 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 28 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Connecticut | 26 | April | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 25 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Illinois | 25 | May | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | 23 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 22 | May | May–Jul |
| Utah | 18 | August | Aug–Oct |
| New Mexico | 11 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Alaska | 10 | July | May–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 9 | May | Mar–May |
| South Dakota | 8 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Iowa | 7 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 7 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Nevada | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Mustelids)
North American River Otter
American Mink
American Badger
Long-tailed Weasel
Sea Otter
Fisher
Pacific Marten
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Ermine?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to May.
Where is American Ermine most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont.