There was a time when the weasel (Martes foina) replaced cats in our homes. In Roman times, the weasel was used for house extermination. The weasel is a short-legged, night-active brown mammal from Europe and Asia. Like other mustelids, the weasel gives off a nauseating odor, though less intense than that of polecats, badgers or weasels, for example. Although the weasel has a bad reputation, due to the damage it causes in homes and hen houses, it is a useful species in ecosystems. They play an important role in the regulation of certain rodents.