4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Willow]

The other day I pulled some old carpet we had down surpressing weeds onto the next patch and disturbed a rodent I hadn't seen before.

 

And with 2 hunter cats and fields close they bring home a good range already

 

It was longer than a mouse, with a long flexible body (about 1/3 the length of something like a ferret) but looked to have golden brown fur and whilst I didn't touch it the fur looked like it would be very soft. The body was cylindrical by which I mean it looked the same diameter most of the way down.

 

Head was similar to a mouse and held in a similar way so not a weasel or similar. Bigger than a mouse. I'm sure it wasn't a rat, body shape different, fur was attractive although I've never seen a rat.

 

Anyone got any idea what it is and whether I should be worried for my chickens ? It was the other end of the garden to the chickens

[Cooks]

errrm a vole?, stout?

[Ygerna]

a mink?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Europ%C3%A4ischer_Nerz.jpg

 

 

ETA a water vole?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Water.vole.arp.jpg

Edited February 18, 2009 by Guest

[BERTIE MCSQUIRTY]

a stoat?

or a weasel?

 

 

http://www.wildlifebritain.com/stoatorweasel.php

[Cooks]

that's what I meant I stoat.. :lol: stupid typos!

[Barkisland]

It sounds like a weasel. We get them here - they like to live in dry stone walls.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/202.shtml

[Madbird]

Weasel or Stoat would definately be a danger to your chickens... although they may just take the eggs if they can get into the coup.

[Madchook]

Did it look like this?

My cat killed it Pretty sure it was a Stoat, they are pretty small-would have thought they would go for eggs rather than chickens???

[The Dogmother]

Sounds like it might be a weasel, lucky you to have one

[Madchook]

http://www.wildlifebritain.com/stoatorweasel.php - just educated myself Think we had a weasel. Thankfully, since stoats get chickens. Also weasels breed more which makes me feel marginally better as I was very upset my cat got one

[OwenLdn]

Did you get a chance to look at its tail?

 

This would be a big give away- rodents in this country have a mostly hairless tail- whereas weasels, stoats and ferrets have a thickly furred tail.

 

I would agree that from the colouring and the size I would agree with the above and suggest it probably was a weasel. They aren’t much bigger than mice and will be a great help in keeping rodent numbers down. I cant honestly say how dangerous a weasel would be to chickens- but would suggest young birds would be at risk.

 

All in all though- how wonderful to see such an elusive creature close up!

[stoice]

my mum always told me the way to remember which is a stoat and which is a weasel was to say 'wee weasel' as it rhymes - meaning the weasel is the smaller of the two - kind of like a stretched mouse. I've only ever seen one dart across the road in front of my car down our country lanes. Much rather see one of those than the rats I've had in MY garden!

[Egluntyne]

Stoats have a black tip to their tail.

 

I wouldn't be overjoyed to have either in my garden. They might see the rats off, but the steal eggs and can harm poultry.

 

I'd up your security a bit to be on the safe side.

[Willow]

Mine might be a weasel. The top picture at http://www.wildlifebritain.com/stoatorweasel.php (thanks for posting link I hadn't found that one) has the head held low like a mouse as the rodent I saw had. I'd always seen pictures of weasels and stoats with their heads held up so didn't think it could be that.

 

I'll keep an eye on security

[Christian]

I had a weasel in my garden a few weeks ago. Haven't seen it since though.

 

 

 

Q. What's the difference between a stoat and weasel?

A. A Weasel is weasily wecognised and a stoat is stoataly different

 

I'll get my coat

[Willow]

that is so bad