ATHENS, Ga. — For the first time, Georgia wildlife researchers said long-tailed weasels have been found in parts of the state.
Finding weasels is effectively “the mammal equivalent of a needle in a haystack, according to the announcement from the University of Georgia,
“Because weasels are notoriously difficult to detect, we don’t have much information on them. We know that despite their small size, they are efficient hunters, playing an important role in pest management,” Lexie Dingerson, co-author of the study and a master’s student in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, said. “We have to better understand populations, which is why this new monitoring strategy is important. Our research offers a starting point.”
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The species is noted as being “extremely difficult” to find in the southeast United States, so information about their preferred habitats and overall population is scarce in the region.
Using a new detection technique in north Georgia, UGA researchers said they had a locator breakthrough.
“If you don’t detect an animal, does that mean that they’re not there or is that just absence of detection? More reliable detection methods can help us distinguish between the two,” Jenna Myers, corresponding author of the study and a doctoral candidate in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, said about the study effort.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Forbes 400: These are the richest people in Georgia in 2026
- Tyler Perry says he’s moving to Puerto Rico, ‘pulling back a whole lot’ from work
- Georgia Tech student missing since Sunday; police ask public to check video
Long-tailed weasels were confirmed in various parts of north Georgia for the first time.
The university said they also found weasels in south Georgia for the first time in 30 years.
Detection of weasels peaked in April and May, according to the university. Researchers said it was likely due to increased activity as female weasels hunted and stored food to help raise their young.
“Weasels are so hard to find, but this also works great for coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, opossums and other small predators,” Myers said. “So, increasing detections of difficult-to-detect species like weasels means we can use cameras to get an idea of what’s going on with the entire predator community.”
As far as the new detection method, researchers used a combination of specially placed surveillance cameras and detection dogs to track down the rarely seen mammals.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
