The Ezo stoat, also known as the "mountain fairy," inhabits the alpine zones of Hokkaido. It's a wild animal known for being quite elusive, but recently, a photo of three Ezo stoats peeking their heads out has become a hot topic on social media. Take a look at this incredibly charming sight.

In the photo, three Ezo stoats are peeking out from behind a rock. Their big, round eyes are simply mesmerizing. One of them even seems to be staring right at the camera, as if asking, "What are you doing?"

The post has captivated many people online, drawing comments like, "Wow, so cute!" "Summer fur!" and "The three stoat brothers."

A Precious Encounter with a Family of Elusive "Mountain Fairy" Stoats

A family of stoats photographed by Sachiko Tsuchiya

These photos were taken by Sachiko Tsuchiya, who works as a nursery school teacher and photographs wildlife across Hokkaido in her spare time. The pictures were taken in the Daisetsuzan mountains around the summer of 2023. Ms. Tsuchiya shared her experience of that day:

"The mountains in Hokkaido are still covered in snow, but the climbing season will begin soon. I'm already excited to see what wildlife encounters this year will bring," Ms. Tsuchiya said. As Hokkaido's mountains enter the lush green season, there may be many opportunities to meet various wild animals.