In a hypothetical woodland scenario, how does the weasel's diet pivot as autumn sets in?
Answer
They must rely more heavily on consistent underground populations of voles and mice, pushing rodent percentage to 80% or more
Weasel success depends on behavioral flexibility in response to seasonal resource availability. The text illustrates this with a dietary pivot: during the summer, insects and amphibians are abundant, forming a significant portion of the diet alongside rodents. However, as autumn arrives and the ground hardens, these ephemeral food sources vanish. Consequently, the weasel must adapt by focusing intensely on the stable, accessible populations living underground, meaning voles and mice become the dominant food source, potentially accounting for 80% or more of their caloric intake during this transition.
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