Ermine Villa

Who needs television when you have an acrobatic ermine right outside your window! The Struss's welcome these visitors to their bird feeder every year.

Here are some interesting facts about ermines from the Canadian Wildlife Federation website:

Ermines change the colour of their coats seasonally. In the summer, their backs are brown, their undersides are white and their tails sport a black tip. In the winter, they are completely white except for their black tipped tail. 

They are useful to have around! How to welcome ermines to your backyard:

...they are extremely beneficial in maintaining mice populations. This little creature would benefit from an area that is kept a bit wild, with a variety of brush and vegetation. This would provide them with cover protecting them from predators while offering them a place to hunt their rodent prey.

Thanks to Hana Struss for the photos, and for providing a perfect habitat for these animals!