Seasonal changes in the activity budget of captive ermine, Mustela erminea L.

Abstract

The duration and location of behavior patterns in ermine (Mustela erminea L.) kept in outdoor enclosures were recorded over a 1-year period. The behavior patterns were grouped into five functional behavioral categories: exploration, comfort behavior, feeding behavior, nest care, and locomotion. Exploration and locomotion occurred mostly on the ground, whereas comfort behavior, feeding behavior, and nest care occurred in the nest. Total activity, outdoor activity, locomotion, and exploration were correlated with ambient temperature. Variations in monthly activity budgets over the year suggest the influence of two factors: the physiological reproductive state and the ambient temperature. The relevance of the observed behavioral strategies to energy economy in the ermine is discussed.