Search for: [Description = "This paper questions the common explanation of surplus killing by small mustelids as an incidental response to superabundance of prey. Alternatively, we propose that surplus hunting in weasels is a regular seasonal \(winter\) strategy, a mean of\: \(1\) balancing the cold\-inducted increase of energy need, \(2\) compensating the concurrent restriction in hunting activity, \(3\) constantly supplying a \"buffer\" cache against unpredictable winter conditions. We tested this prediction in seminatural conditions in nineteen experiments performed over three years with 8 nonreproductive weasels Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1766 and very high densities of rodents, mainly the bank voles Clethrionomys glareolus \(Schreber, 1780\). Each experiment lasted from 6 to 25 days."]

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