CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The pair of animals chosen as mascots of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are stoats — weasel-like creatures that are at risk because of climate change. One of them is brown and the other is white,

Stoats, or Mustela erminea, are a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern parts of North America. This puts them in the weasel family, along with ferrets, otters, badgers and wolverines. Stoats are also known by many names—sometimes, they’re called ermines or short-tailed weasels.

A North Carolina expert talks about what makes stoats, the mascots for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, so special.

Tourists are reportedly desperate for the mascot merch.

It’s a relative of the weasel. Is it any stranger than Izzy, Gliz the ice cube or that hat from earlier Games?

A Polish pierogi and Tina and Milo — the official stoat mascots of the Winter Olympics — have become some of the Games’ hottest items. CNN’s Antonia Mortensen explains why they’re selling out fast.

Team Poland’s pierogi-shaped mascot has become an unexpected fan favourite at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, according to media reports.

The 2026 Winter Olympics feature three mascots. Here's what to know about the Milan-Cortina mascots.

Tina and Milo, the mascots for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics, are anthropomorphic stoats. Native to the Italian Alps, the habitat of these small mammals is increasingly

The story of the Olympic and Paralympic mascots in 2026.

Winter Olympics mascot Tina, falls over in the snowy conditions affecting the day's events. WATCH MORE: Winter Olympics Video Available to UK users only. Mascot Tina takes a tumble Video, 00:00:16Mascot Tina takes a tumble Up Next.