WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Lincoln Park ‘weasel’ sightings

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Glenn emailed with this question:

I wondered if you all had heard of or know of a population of weasels at Lincoln Park or if perhaps someone may have let a pet go. I’ve lived near and run in the park for 23 years now and have never seen one before, but the other day on the beach path one ran across in front of me from the water back towards the wood. It was quite small, short legged, and black in color which is why I believe it to be a weasel species and not a fisher or ferret but I’m no biologist.

And that reminded us of photos DeAnna had sent last month that we hadn’t published. She thought it was a Stoat:

(DeAnna wrote) It was a tiny thing, body not more than about 6” long ( or counting the tail) and was whipping around the logs and rocks near the pool. There was something kind of swim camp going on and the beach was full of kids absolutely oblivious to the menace among them. This is my first sighting of such a critter in my 35 years here.

We checked the archives but have never had a report on this critter in our 17+ years of wildlife coverage, either. Hoping at least one reader will have further enlightenment for us!

Rainer Klett June 22, 2025 (2:19 pm)

Here is a photo I took last month – South side of Lincoln Park. Could that be the same critter?

WSB June 22, 2025 (2:31 pm)

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The blacktipped tail is mentioned in the explanatory link we used above, and is also visible in one of DeAnna’s photos …
KWest Seattle June 22, 2025 (2:42 pm)

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That photo is incredible

Joan June 22, 2025 (2:36 pm)

We saw one once on our monthly bird survey there. It was such a surprise! So happy they live there.

pennymulligan June 22, 2025 (2:45 pm)

While walking one morning on the bluff about two years ago a weasel ran across our path. They’re there, you just have to be lucky to see them.

John June 22, 2025 (2:55 pm)

I saw one last week crossing Fauntleroy eastbound just past Wildwood. Couldn’t believe what I saw, and had to look it up.

JustSarah June 22, 2025 (3:11 pm)

Yes, my tween son and his friends spotted one the evening of May 8 in Lincoln Park, peeking out from the upper south restroom building (from a maintenance door, specifically). He took this picture (zoomed from a distance, because he knows to give wildlife space). We couldn’t positively ID because this guy didn’t fully emerge, and the tail would be the key. But this does appear to be a stoat.

I was envious, because I’ve never seen one in my 40+ years in the area, 19 in West Seattle specifically.

wsgal June 22, 2025 (3:22 pm)

I’ve seen one in our yard before, near bowling alley. That was a year or so ago, haven’t seen one since.

ltmmgm June 22, 2025 (3:24 pm)

Is that a baby Stoat in the one picture or is it a meal because this article attached say they are carnivorous but if it is a baby then this means there are more than one in LP?! West Seattle sure does have its abundance of wildlife! 🩷https://animalcorner.org/animals/stoat/

Tracey June 22, 2025 (3:35 pm)

I used to see one at Puget Ridge park near the Pathfinder school years ago.

DML June 22, 2025 (3:57 pm)

We had two youngsters that looked like this run across our deck 3 weeks ago and then 2 days later saw one of them dispatch a young bunny in the yard and head into the greenbelt. Different tails though, around 4 inches long and appeared blunt on the ends. We are above Jacobsen Road. The plentiful rabbits are attractive.

JustSarah June 22, 2025 (4:59 pm)

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Yessss I’m all for these native weasels getting their full of invasive pest Eastern cottontails! They can go after some eastern grey squirrels as well!

Patrick H. June 22, 2025 (4:08 pm)

Hi hi,Long time Pacific Northwest naturalist here. We have several types of weasels and many thrive in transitional spaces like parks and the urban/suburban wilderness boundaries. They are typically fast and stealthy, but almost always around. We tend to see them more in late spring when they have kits and rodents have babies. Moms are doing extra hunting on abundant baby prey to feed their own litters so they’re more bold and hunting at times of day they normally wouldn’t.Long-tailed and short-tailed weasels are abundant. Both are often called stoats in North America and short-tailed weasels are also known as ermine. We also have mink, but they don’t have the creamy belly that you see on the weasels in the picture and they’re less interested in places with large human populations.Fisher are bigger than cats, rare, and only thrive in dense, mature forest so it’d be a 1 in a billion chance to find one in Seattle.Great page on the Burke Museum’s website thay lists the mammals found in Washington https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/mammalogy/mamwash/carnivora.phpWeasels help keep rodemt populations down so they’re great helpers to humans. Please don’t use rat or mouse poison as it can also kill these critters when they hunt weak or sick rodents.

alkiannie June 22, 2025 (9:07 pm)

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Thank you, Patrick. Great read and very educational. TIL that stoats = short tailed weasels and they are cute as heck. Also vicious little eaters: Ermine are carnivores that hunt primarily at night. They are specialist predators on small, warm-blooded vertebrates, preferably mammals of rabbit size and smaller. When mammalian prey is scarce, ermine eat birds, eggs, frogs, fish, and insects. In severe climates, ermine frequently hunt under snow and survive entirely on small rodents and lemmings. Daily meals are essential to meet the ermine’s exhorbitant energy and heat production demands. Ermine cache leftover meals as a way of dealing with these demands. (Ruff and Wilson, 1999)Once a potential prey is identified, the ermine approaches as closely as possible. With incredible speed it grasps the back of the victim’s head and neck with sharp teeth, and wraps its body and feet around the victim. The victim dies from repeated bites to the base of the skull. Ermine have keen senses that help them locate prey. Hares and rodents are mainly followed by scent, insects by sound, and fish by sight. (Ruff and Wilson, 1999)

SarahinWSea June 22, 2025 (4:37 pm)

I saw this little guy or one of his friends North of Lincoln Park on our fence. We are near 47th and Graham. I had to upload the photo to iNaturalist to get a good hint about what he was. This was shortly after one of our big wind storms.

Lp June 22, 2025 (6:01 pm)

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Great picture!
Trileigh June 23, 2025 (12:15 pm)

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Wow! Fantastic sighting, wonderful photo.

LK June 22, 2025 (5:00 pm)

Thank you to all who shared photos! I was so surprised and delighted to see one zip across the waterside path at Lincoln Park and then scamper around the large logs across from the beach picnic shelters last week.I have seen them at Mercer Slough in Bellevue, but this was my first WS sighting. Adorable and FIERCE.

Barbara June 22, 2025 (6:18 pm)

Great photos! I like this article with more details,https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2022/Feb-Mar/Conservation/Ermines

Bex June 22, 2025 (7:15 pm)

We saw one last Sunday walking to our car from the pool at Lincoln park. Jump down near the picnic area near the trash can. We were all so happy to see it.

mustelidae June 22, 2025 (7:23 pm)

I saw a short- or long-tailed weasel crossing the bike bath on Alki several years ago, near the promenade. It was about 9 in the morning on a weekend, with plenty of people around. I was shocked and thrilled – such beautiful little animals!

Lc June 22, 2025 (9:15 pm)

Looks like a pine marten

Dad June 23, 2025 (6:36 am)

So pleased to see this story. I also saw one this year, emerged from a blackberry thicket north of Mee-Kwa-Mooks. Like others, I didn’t know what it was, had to look it up. Thank you to those that posted the helpful information. So cool!

WSPK June 23, 2025 (12:02 pm)

Since it seems not to have been mentioned in the comments let me emphasize that this creature is NOT a menace to children at the pool or any other humans. They are a natural part of our ecosystem and as stated above, beneficial in reducing rodent populations. WSB should add that commentary to the article so readers who may not have read the comments are properly informed.

JustSarah June 23, 2025 (1:27 pm)

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I’d actually say the risk is more likely to be in people thinking these guys are cute, therefore friendly. People often anthropomorphize animals, especially small, cute mammals, and that leads to harm for all. So yes, these are not a direct danger to humans, but they are still fierce hunters and should be given their space to do their thing. And please, do not feed them! Plenty of invasive rabbits and other prey out there for them.

Ferns June 23, 2025 (9:44 pm)

Saw one last year in southeast Bellevue. These photos are amazing.

Kate H June 26, 2025 (5:36 pm)

Found this post after googling what I saw not five minutes ago in Lincoln Park. It was chasing a rabbit!

JimD June 27, 2025 (7:00 pm)

It is rather far from Lincoln Park, but I saw one of these creatures (long or short-tailed, I know not) at the Seward Park Clay Studio. Thank you for solving the mystery of its genus and species.

Jann July 9, 2025 (6:39 pm)

Just returned from a trip and found a dead – run over and smashed – weasel in my driveway on Harbor Ave SW across from Jack Block. I think it might be a juvenile. It’s now picked up and inside a plastic bag. Should I contact the wildlife dept or UW? We have never seen weasels here and I hope it was not someone’s pet. 😞