Stoat

Stoat

Mustela erminea

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
5–10% · Rare
overall probability at Banff National Park
12 Verified records at Banff National Park
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as the Eurasian ermine or ermine, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The name ermine () is used especially in its pure white winter coat of the stoat or its fur. Ermine fur was used in the 15th century by Catholic monarchs, who sometimes used it as the mozzetta cape. It has long been used on the ceremonial robes of members of the United Kingdom House of Lords. It was also used in capes on images such as the Infant Jesus of Prague. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Stoat sighting in Banff National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Banff National Park

Least Weasel
LC Endemic

Least Weasel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mustela nivalis

Insufficient data
American Marten
LC Endemic

American Marten

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Martes americana

10–20% · With luck
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

5–10% · With luck
Wolverine
LC

Wolverine

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Gulo gulo

<5% · Rare
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

20–30% · With luck
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

10–20% · With luck
Gray Wolf
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

5–10% · With luck
Canada Lynx
LC

Canada Lynx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lynx canadensis

5–10% · With luck
🐒 No photo available
LC

Striped Skunk

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Mephitis mephitis

5–10% · With luck
Mountain Lion
LC

Mountain Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Puma concolor

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
2 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
3 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
4 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
5–10%
5 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
5–10%
6 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
5–10%
7 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
8 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
9 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
10 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
11 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
14 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
15 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
16 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data
17 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
18 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
Insufficient data
19 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
20 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
21 Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
22 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
Insufficient data
23 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
24 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
25 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
26 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
27 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
28 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
29 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
30 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
31 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data
32 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Insufficient data
33 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
34 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
35 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
36 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Stoat in Banff National Park?

About 5% of wildlife watchers report a Stoat sighting in Banff National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Stoat in Banff National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Stoat in Banff National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Banff National Park