Otte, PJ. et al. (2026) Too small to matter? a call to action for European small mustelid research

Despite their ecological significance, stoats and weasels have remained relatively understudied due to their elusive nature, and many questions regarding their ecology and conservation remain unanswered. In recent years, these small predators have attracted growing attention, supported by new methodologies that allow more effective research. In June 2025, a group of European researchers convened at the first ‘European Small Mustelid Meeting’ to assess the current state of small mustelid research, with a focus on weasels and stoats, and identify priorities for the future. In this paper, we synthesise the current research on weasels and stoats across Europe and propose six key directions for future small mustelid research: (1) the optimisation of monitoring techniques and data collection protocols; (2) the upscaling of species distribution models to a continental level; (3) the ecological role of small mustelids in the food web; (4) the influence of climate change on their moulting phenology; (5) the impact of environmental contaminants on small mustelids; and (6) the gathering of genetic material to analyze genetic diversity across Europe.