Stoat info required

[FUDGEY]

Hi all, I am trying to get a good photograph of a Stoat and would greatly appreciate any information that might help me locate one. There have been a few sightings along a particular stretch of road I know about, but I have been along it a good few times now and seen nothing, Ive even tried squeaking, but still nothing. Has anyone got any idea of their breeding habits? eg What is the favoured sight and what time of the year? Also do they have a large territory? Hope someone can help, ty.

[paulthomas]

I think your best hope is to find a female with kits as she'll stick to one den site for a while (although she'll probably move dens several times). Finding her will be down to pure luck though. There's a bit of information about Stoats on the Mammal Society's web site.

[Fauna]

Your best bet would be to keep an eye out around drystone walls that has a good rabbit population.

[Rob_D]

I am wondering if there are any good baits that might work? Maybe strawberry jam, peanut butter or cheese which seem to work so well on their weasley cousins.

[FUDGEY]

Thanks folks Ill good advice

[Tobyh]

Originally Posted by Fauna

Your best bet would be to keep an eye out around drystone walls that has a good rabbit population.

That sounds like good advice. Definitely somewhere with a healthy rabbit population I would advise. I've been lucky to have good views at a warren recently (by chance though) but couldn't find where the den was likely to be though we have no stone walls around here and nothing obvious stuck out as a good den spot.

TobyH

[bigdave60dog]

Originally Posted by Rob_D

I am wondering if there are any good baits that might work? Maybe strawberry jam, peanut butter or cheese which seem to work so well on their weasley cousins.

Never forget " A Weasel is weasily distinquished from a Stoat which is Stoatally different".
Dave

[snake]

Hi Fudgey,

Stoats are never keen to leave any cover so this time of the year is probably not the best to try and find them, there is so much new growth everywhere they can move about virtually unseen.
Saying that , their main food source, certainly on my patch is Rabbits and I still see them around the earths where the Rabbits keep the grass short.
This is a time of plenty for both Stoats and Weasels so they don't have to spend much time hunting. They can go down almost any hole and with all the young Rabbits about there is an easy meal waiting for them at the end of each one..
Their territory can vary, anything from a few hectares up to 30 or 40 hectares depending on the food available.
Keep your eyes open towards end of July, you might be lucky and see mum with anything up to a dozen youngsters on tow as she takes them out and teaches them to hunt.
I've seen this sight many times over the years but never had a camera with me so hopefully this year I'll be lucky.
If I were you I would find an area where the Rabbits are numerous enough to keep the vegetation down, vary the times of the day you visit the site and sit very quietly and watch.
Keep an eye on any cover that leads to the site, ditches, hedges, stone walls ect.
If you do see one try and watch where it returns to, you might find the den which probably won't be far away, if you do there's an opportunity for some cracking shots.

Good luck in your quest if it doesn't work this time of the year go back in the winter when things will be a lot easier.