Editing Least weasel (section)

===Diet===
[[File:Donnola vs lepre.JPG|thumb|right|Taxidermy exhibit showing a least weasel attacking a [[European hare]], in the Natural History Museum of Genoa]]

The least weasel feeds predominantly on [[mouse]]-like [[rodent]]s, including [[mice]], [[hamster]]s, [[Gerbillinae|gerbil]]s and others. It usually does not attack adult hamsters and [[rat]]s. [[Frog]]s, [[fish]], small [[bird]]s and bird eggs are rarely eaten. It can deal with adult [[pika]]s and gerbils, but usually cannot overcome [[brown rat]]s and [[souslik]]s. Exceptional cases are known of least weasels killing prey far larger than themselves, such as [[capercaillie]], [[Hazel grouse|hazel hen]] and [[hare]]s.<ref name=s987>{{Harvnb|Heptner|Sludskii|2002|pp=987–988}}</ref> In England, a favoured prey item is the [[field vole]] (''Microtus agrestis''). These have fluctuations in population size, and in years of abundance may form up to 54% of the weasel's diet. In years of scarcity, birds form a greater proportion of the diet and female least weasels may fail to breed.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Tapper, S. |year=1979 |title=The effect of fluctuating Vole numbers (''Microtus agrestis'') on a population of Weasels (''Mustela nivalis'') on farmland |journal=Animal Ecology |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=603–617 |jstor=4182 |doi=10.2307/4182 |bibcode=1979JAnEc..48..603T}}</ref>

Despite its small size, the least weasel is a fierce hunter, capable of killing a [[rabbit]] five to 10 times its own weight.<ref name=mac208>{{Harvnb|Macdonald|1992|p=208}}</ref> Although they are commonly taken, the rabbits are usually young specimens, and become an important food source during the spring, when small rodents are scarce and rabbit kits are plentiful. Male least weasels take a higher proportion of rabbits than females, as well as an overall greater variety of prey. This is linked to the fact that being larger, and having vaster territorial ranges than females, males have more opportunities to hunt a greater diversity of prey.<ref name=h472>{{Harvnb|Harris|Yalden|2008|pp=472–473}}</ref>

The least weasel forages undercover, to avoid being seen by foxes and birds of prey. It is adapted for pursuing its prey down tunnels, though it may also bolt prey from a burrow and kill it in the open.<ref name=h472/> The least weasel kills small prey, such as [[vole]]s, with a bite to the [[occiput|occipital]] region of the skull<ref name=s987/> or the neck, dislocating the [[cervical vertebrae]]. Large prey typically dies of [[blood loss]] or [[Shock (circulatory)|circulatory shock]].<ref name=h472/> When food is abundant, only a small portion of the prey is eaten, usually the [[brain]]. The average daily food intake is {{cvt|35|g}}, which is equivalent to 30–35% of the animal's body weight.<ref name=s987/>