Short-tailed Weasel

Twice I have released several Short-tailed Weasels from the window-well but never have I seen one run through the backyard.  Last summer my better half saw one midday as in ran in the garage and out again.  Ok so I photographed this extremely fast little critter through the window in low light. Keeping a close eye on the backyard, bout 15 mins later we saw a dead mouse on the window-well cover and it was not there when watching the weasel earlier.  So, I stood by the window hoping the weasel would return for its prize.  It did but the biggest surprise was it came back with another dead mouse. It dropped it beside the 1st dead mouse.  and picked the 2nd mouse up again. The weasel ran through the vegetation around the ponds through the lilac into the horse pasture.  We patiently waited for it to return for the 1st mouse, and it did!  As it took off across the backyard carrying the dead mouse a Sharp-shinned Hawk appeared.  The weasel had made its way to the pond vegetation, and I decided to go out to scare the hawk away after it had tried to attack the weasel.  The hawk flew away and the weasel waited for me to disappear before it took off once again through the horse pasture.  

Short-tailed Weasel Tidbit - I read that black-tip on the tail is kept year-round and is thought to help them avoid capture from its predators, especially hawks and owls, who are distracted by the wildly whipping black tip.