What type of animal

[allyryan]

Whilst walking my dogs yesterday, one ousted a small mammal of about 3 or 4 inches off a bank next to a field. It was making loud squeaking and dare I say hissing type of noises. I went to try and pick it up to put back but it started to chase us!!. It also looked as if it could have bitten my finger off. I could not see a tail on it. It followed for about 20 feet then tunneled into a pile of leaves. Could this have been a very young weasel or stoat. I must have looked a sight being chased by this wee little critter, it was a good thing my dogs had leads on as it would have been history.!!

[Burko]

What colour was it?
A Stoat or Weasel can certainly make hissing and squeaking sounds.

If it's on the small side I'd go for weasel because neither would have young at this time of year.

*Edit. Are you saying the creature was 3" to 4" or that it was 3" to 4" from the bank?

[Dogghound]

Sounds like a weasel to me.

[allyryan]

Originally Posted by Burko

What colour was it?
A Stoat or Weasel can certainly make hissing and squeaking sounds.

If it's on the small side I'd go for weasel because neither would have young at this time of year.

*Edit. Are you saying the creature was 3" to 4" or that it was 3" to 4" from the bank?

It was a brown colour but did not appear to have any markings and was about 4 inches in size It was no type of rat or mouse. I actually managed to tie the dogs up and found 2 dumped flowerpots, I found it again in the pile of leaves and scooped it in the pots and took it back to where we had found it. The head did appear like a weasel.

[Dogghound]

A word of warning, dont attempt to handle these. They have a very powerful bite and take some getting off once they lock on plus it doesnt stop bleeding.

[allyryan]

I turned tail when it started coming after me and thought it could give a nasty nip! I am used to animals so it was a bit embarrassing !

[faz]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

A word of warning, dont attempt to handle these. They have a very powerful bite and take some getting off once they lock on plus it doesnt stop bleeding.

been there done that one ouch

[Burko]

From keeping/handling working ferrets my best advice is don't go waving it around if it bites you. If you were being swung round by a crane you'd hold on tighter wouldn't you?
Put the animal on the ground, keeping you hand in the same position and not letting it pull you and it will let go to get a better grip and you can pull your hand away. It hurts like hell but you just have to suck it up.

Other methods are:
Press it on the head between the eyes.
Blowing air up its nostrils - although this opens you up to being bitten on the lips or nose.

[Dogghound]

I just firmly gripped it around the neck and pulled it off, although its teeth tore through my hand, so probably not an ideal method compared to yours. Then I got it into a better grip like how you would hold a ferret and bagged it up.

[Burko]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

I just firmly gripped it around the neck and pulled it off, although its teeth tore through my hand, so probably not an ideal method compared to yours. Then I got it into a better grip like how you would hold a ferret and bagged it up.

Yep, that can happen too, you end up with a more open wound rather than just some puncture marks.

When handling, the best way to calm them down if they're a bit feisty is to take hold of the thick skin around their neck and hold it in a pinch and let them dangle, the same as a cat carries its kittens. They calm down, go limp and start yawning.