Stoat in my garden

friskylamb · #1 (**permalink**) 01-02-2010, 10:30 PM

I noticed that my bird nuts were going down far to quickly - within a day 3/4 of the bird feeder was empty. Yesterday I clearly saw a stoat near the tree where the nuts and seeds are hanging but I thought stoats were meat eaters??

Seems I have perfect conditions for the Stoatie, i.e a stone walled garden, log pile, lots of mice and rabbit warrens surrounding the garden. I really want to see the stoat again! Any ideas on what food to leave out for them?

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 08:01 AM

It ate nuts? Did you see this? this is highly unlikely! They prefer to hunt live food so not really much (that I know) that you could leave out to attract them. They have been know to take carrion in hard times. The fact you have plenty of mice and rabbits is good, this will increase sightings. I would advise you keep an eye on the log pile and wall and hope it pops up again, they can be quite bold.

sunnydale · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 08:10 AM

I agree with Dogghound. If you have mice/rabbits and such a good habitat, I would think your Stoat will be back again soon anyway!
Best to leave it to it's own devices, rather than upset the balance.

You're very lucky to have such a selection of animals visiting!

Tracey

friskylamb · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2010, 10:08 PM

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

No i didnt see it eat the nuts just thought maybe thats what was making them go down so quickly. Must have been something else then.

By the time I get home from work it's always dark so I have to wait until the weekend when I wil be on NUT WATCH or PEANUT PATROL!

I need to get out more : )

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 04-02-2010, 02:37 PM

If you say you have a good population of mice then perhaps that is your answer.

.

friskylamb · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2010, 01:10 PM

Terrible news. My darn cat has killed the stoat! found this morning by its log pile. hope there will be others.

aeshna5 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friskylamb

Terrible news. My darn cat has killed the stoat! found this morning by its log pile. hope there will be others.

Might be better if there aren't in case they meet the same fate! However if there's one there's a reasonable chance there's a small population around. What a sad end!