The weasel family got its start when nature evolved predators with long bodies and short legs to hunt the nooks and crannies on the forest floor. Then these animals adapted further to fill specialized niches. There are 65 species in the weasel family, with 16 species in North America, making it the largest group of carnivores on earth. We'll journey across the North American continent, from the shores of California, where the sea otter flourishes, to Rocky Mountain streams where the mink makes its home. In Arizona we’ll see the most endangered mammal in North America, the black-footed ferret. Along with all other weasels, badger, skunks, raccoons, and mink, the family group Masteladay also includes the river otter.
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