The adorable Olympic mascots, Tina and Milo, are stoats, small weasel-like creatures with a unique ability to change their fur color. However, this very trait is now putting them at risk due to climate change.
In cold climates, stoats naturally transform their brown fur to white during winter, blending seamlessly into the snowy landscape. But with winters becoming shorter globally, these stoats are now turning white too early, before the snow even arrives. This early transformation leaves them exposed and vulnerable to predators, as their bright white coats stand out against the dirt and rocks.
Despite this, Olympic organizers have chosen to focus on the welcoming and playful nature of these mascots, emphasizing the Italian spirit of the games. Tina, the white stoat, represents Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of the host cities, while her younger brother, Milo, with his darker fur, represents Milan and is the mascot for the Paralympics.
While their images grace magnets, bags, and pins, finding a plush toy of these stoat siblings has become nearly impossible due to high demand. Yet, every medalist receives a toy, keeping them in the public eye, and a costumed Tina brings joy to competition venues, greeting spectators and posing for photos.
Marco Granata, a doctoral student studying stoats, believes the organizers could have done more to educate people about these animals and the impact of climate change. He highlights the irony that while everyone is talking about stoats, few truly understand their real-life counterparts.
The Olympics' website describes stoats as curious and fun-loving, embodying the dynamic Italian spirit. Raffaella Paniè, who led the branding for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, explains that the focus was on creating friendly mascots to promote the culture of Italy.
When asked about the lack of discussion on stoats and climate change, Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi acknowledged the importance of including this narrative. He suggested using the mascots to convey a message about the changing environment to the younger generation.
L. Scott Mills, an emeritus professor, explains that stoats and about 20 other color-changing species are increasingly mismatched due to climate change. Their seasonal molting, triggered by shortening day length, occurs at the same time each year, regardless of snow. Survival for these creatures depends on camouflage, having the right 'wardrobe' to avoid predators.
While stoats are not currently endangered, studies show that predators target mismatched decoys more frequently. Owls, hawks, coyotes, and foxes all pose a threat to stoats. Mills connected this camouflage mismatch to climate change while studying snowshoe hares over a decade ago.
Granata tracks stoat populations in the Italian Alps, where they once faced threats from fur hunting, now prohibited in Italy. He believes the stoat, like snow-reliant sports, faces a significant threat from climate change. Researchers predict a substantial reduction in potential Winter Games host locations in the coming years.
Mills suggests that stoats, if given enough time, may evolve to remain brown year-round in the absence of snow. Conservation efforts and emission reduction can help slow this process, ensuring stoat populations don't decline too drastically. Projections show that if stoats don't adapt, color-changing species will decline over the next few decades as snow continues to diminish.
In conclusion, the story of these Olympic mascots highlights the challenges of climate change but also offers a glimmer of hope. It serves as a reminder of the potential for positive change and the importance of raising awareness about the impact of our actions on the natural world.
