DISTRIBUTION OF THE LONG-TAILED WEASEL, MUSTELA-FRENATA-LONGICAUDA, IN ALBERTA AS DETERMINED BY QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS

A study of the distribution of the Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata longicauda) in Alberta was conducted in July 1991 through 798 questionnaires and 120 interviews with landowners, resident trappers, and government employees. Five hundred and four responses were received. The presence of Long-tailed Weasel was confirmed in 48 locations on the basis of roadkills. captures and multiple observations. The majority of the confirmed locations delimited a corridor overlapping the black soil zone of the province and the distribution of Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) reported by other researchers. Results of this survey indicate that the Long-tailed Weasel is present in the central and southern regions of Alberta.