Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) Distribution Survey in Arkansas: Challenges in Detecting a Rare Species

Abstract

Long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) have one of the widest distributions of mustelids in the western hemisphere and were distributed across a majority of the American continents ranging from Canada through the contiguous United States, Mexico, and into northern South America. However, on a local scale they are considered uncommon and rare. We assessed the distribution of long-tailed weasels across Arkansas to determine occupancy in each ecoregion of Arkansas, and determined the detectability on two local, adjacent sites. No long-tailed weasels were detected within the ecoregions, but the species was detected with intensive sampling on one local site. It should be emphasized that although the species was not detected within the ecoregions, this does not indicate it does not occur broadly across the state.