Is the yellow weasel a protected animal, and can its meat be eaten?

The scientific name of the yellow weasel is the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), a carnivorous mammal of the rodent-eating family, mainly active at night, often dwelling on hillsides or in shrubs, able to climb trees or enter water, with a very keen sense of smell but poor eyesight, and a fierce temperament, often killing more prey than it can eat, so can yellow weasel meat be eaten? Is it a protected animal?

1. Can yellow weasel meat be eaten

Yellow weasel meat can be eaten. The yellow weasel is a relatively small carnivore, usually living in some relatively flat areas, and is a very valuable animal; its fur can be used to make clothing, and its meat can be eaten and also used as medicine. The yellow weasel has very good effects in treating frequent urination, bodily ulcers and so on; moreover, the yellow weasel also has very good effects in treating gonorrhea. Ordinarily, when the yellow weasel is used as medicine, it is usually ground into powder.

2. Is the yellow weasel a protected animal

The yellow weasel is a protected animal, but it does not belong to the nationally key protected animals; it belongs to the “three haves” animals, namely those that are beneficial or have important economic or scientific research value. According to the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, “three haves” wild animals are subject to the provisions of this law, so on the whole they are still protected by law, only at a lower level.

3. Living habits of the yellow weasel

1. The yellow weasel is a nocturnal animal, especially active frequently at dawn and dusk, sometimes also active during the day, and usually moves alone. It is good at running, can press close to the ground to move forward, squeeze through crevices and caves, and can also swim, climb trees and walls, etc. Except during the breeding season, it generally has no fixed den, usually hiding under piles of firewood and grass, in piles of rubble, in wall holes and other such places.

2. In winter, the yellow weasel often follows rodents in migration and sneaks into the vicinity of villages, building nests in stone caves and tree holes. It is good at climbing high and swimming in water, and can also leap high and dart low, chasing prey like lightning in the piles of rubble in dry ditches. It is highly alert and keeps a state of high vigilance at all times; it is very difficult to take a yellow weasel by surprise. Once pursued by a dog or a person, when there is no way back and no way to escape, the yellow weasel will fiercely launch a desperate counterattack against the intruder, appearing fearless and very fierce.

3. The yellow weasel and other members of its family also have a weapon for driving off enemies, namely a pair of soybean-shaped stink glands on both sides of the anus; while fleeing, they can shoot out an unbearable-smelling secretion from the stink glands. If the pursuing enemy is hit on the head by this secretion, it will cause poisoning; in mild cases there is dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and in serious cases the victim may fall to the ground and remain unconscious.