Weaseling into Your Newsfeed

Today, we would like to give a special shout out to our tiny, but mighty carnivore friend, the Long-tailed Weasel! This species is in decline nationally and is protected in 20 states, but is seldom considered here in Utah (and sadly was left out of the Foothills Trail Plan). Even worse, Utah law permits anyone to kill a weasel that is deemed a nuisance, and for $29 a trapper can trap them for five months of the year anywhere in the state with a “no bag limit.” Weasels are reportedly in decline due to “habitat loss, disruptions to snowfall patterns driven by climate change and the… use of rodenticides.” (Lynn Wilson, National Wildlife magazine, vol. 60, No. 2) Salt Lake City has managed the City Creek Watershed and the foothills as a de-facto wilderness area for 100 years, prior to 2020 (when trail construction began), but many native wildlife species needs, like our weasels, are now being overshadowed by recreation pressures. Some species that are declining elsewhere in the state, may be thriving here because of the lower hunting pressures, and protection by the 36,000 acre de-facto wilderness area that sits between Parleys Canyon and Bountiful. So how will we protect our weasels and the entire ecosystem they depends upon? #SaveOurFoothills believes we can protect the environment at the same time we improve recreational trails, but we first must identify the values we hope to maintain and strengthen into the future.

Gavin Noyes