Few animals have fallen from grace more rapidly than the weasel.

The miniscule mammals have gone from being so revered they were featured in the paintings of Renaissance artist Leonardo DaVinci to being something you might call someone when you want to start a fistfight.

Now, three once-common species of weasels are rapidly fading from the continent, according to a study led by Clemson University wildlife ecologist David Jachowski.

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