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 questio nnaires and 120 interviews with landowners, resident trappers, and gov ernment employees. Five hundred and four responses were received. The presence of Long-tailed Weasel was confirmed in 48 locations on the ba sis of roadkills. captures and multiple observations. The majority of the confirmed locations delimited a corridor overlapping the black soi l zone of the province and the distribution of Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) reported by other researchers. Results of this su rvey indicate that the Long-tailed Weasel is present in the central an d southern regions of Alberta.