Stoat/Weasel

[shirl]

Did you notice if there was a black tip at the end of the tail? If there was it was a stoat, must admit I have never seen one in my house, not sure how my working springer would feel about that!

Welcome to the site, sure you will enjoy it.

Shirl

[witham]

I'm sad to say that our cat brought a squeaking Weasel in the house through the cat flap on Monday, I wondered what the heck the noise was at first, but as I didn't want it running around the house and making itself at home I quickly shooed the cat out still carrying it, I tried to get it to drop it but it ran off and I later found the Weasel dead, We do occasionally have them and a couple of years ago my husband despatched one that had somehow got into our avairy and was killing the Chinese Quail in a frenzy a bit like a Fox in a chicken pen.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi, here's a little trick for you to try if you want to see a stoat cose-up. I've done it a few times and it does work.(bet they prove me wrong ).
As soon as you see a stoat put the back of your finger to your lips,suck in through tight lips so you make a high pitched squeeking sound.Do it in short irregular blasts to immitate an injured or distressed small animal.
I did it the other week, a rabbit shot out in front of me followed by a stoat.I started to call, the stoat came out of the undergrowth,reared up.It came closer ,reared up again.It came to about 6 feet then the penny dropped or it got my scent and it was off.
Try it , it's feel great when you get them so close.

Neil

I saw my first Stoat of 2008 last sunday at work out in the field on a Rabbits trail which was in the same spot as the Stoat some 3 minutes before hand!

Will give the your tip a try for sure!

[vinnychameleon]

Hi all
I have a large garden and have left a large proportion of it up by the wall growing for a around 2 years and it is about a 2 metre wide strip and i would guess about 20 metres or so long. It has a lot of rodents within it and a log pile so from reading the threads id say theres a pretty good chance we have weasels or stoats in there but iv only seen one stoat in the garden area. I was wondering how i could get a glimpse seeing as it is quite likely they reside there
many thanks

[madwife9]

I have been hearing things the loft for a number of weeks now... initially I believed it was rats however I recently saw a stoat or weasel running along the guttering with a mammal in its mouth (?baby rabbit) and going into the loft. I have seen it outside many times now, often taking baby rabbits from their warrens... I have free range guinea pigs in my house so this is very dangerous for me! I cant leave doors open or even open windows (we live in a bungalow). I had the rodent man out today who more or less laughed at me and said it was NOT a stoat or weasel and that it was a squirrel. I have seen the animal clearly - its brown with white under side and black bushy bit on the end of its tail... I know this is a weasel/stoat and I am furious he wont believe me! Any one else had this problem? They seem to come and go - itl be really really noisy for a day then nothing for a week and then it will start again! Help...
Sarah

[jefachenbach]

Sarah,
I've been happily hosting a stoat here in Nova Scotia since returning from my daughter's hostel in Costa Rica last January. Her Casa Surf has cool stuff- like house geckos- but WE have a house ermine! I call 'her' "Frankly" because that's how she behaves; never sneaky, always polite, she takes chicken from my fingers and makes no messes. She lives quietly in the loft like yours, traveling through a hole behind the book case. If fact, she's just now come to visit and is sitting frankly on the microwave delicately nibbling her stash.
Petite at 11 inches, her white coat is now chocolate save her midnight tip and we hope for wee ones soon as there was a larger visitor here for two days in March. He was a huge clunky thing at 14 inches, still wearing his white outfit long after she'd had the sense to change and has since vamoosed. Typical guy; welcome to go.
Last summer it was hungry chipmunks that woke my favorite niece on the chesterfield but I expect they'll be replaced and won't my Anna be surprised!. It's certain the mice and red squirrels are not in the house anymore and that's nice.
For those who would entice ermines; try a tropical vacation.

[beech]

A week or so ago I saw a Weasel dragging a small rabbit through some bramble, I tried to get a photo, but it was far too quick for me. If you look closely at this very bad image you can just make out the eye of the weasel as he returns for the rabbit at the top of the photo.