Wondering how this stoat died...?

tittybiscuits

Hi, found this stoat today, I know it's not the best pic but does that look like a wound on the neck? I didn't get to inspect it properly as my other half was disgusted! But I moved it into some undergrowth for fear that it was poisoned, wouldn't like to think a raptor might pick it up as there are a lot around here. Just thought it unusual for it to be lying dead in the middle of the path...


Stoat by nialler78, on Flickr

Tiercel Dave

More info needed I'd say! But, at a guess, I think Stoats taste 'bitter', I had a dog once who was a great 'ratter'. One day he made a drive into the undergrowth and emerged with a Stoat. He was not one 'happy chappy', couldn't get the taste out of his mouth!
Similar happens with cats and Shrews, they kill them but rarely eat them!
Could it have gotten a 'tip' from a car and made it that far before expiring?
Dave

cuddlycavies

Maybe dropped by a cat! I would say the cat paid a price though! He wouldn't have given up easily!

fathead82

Do you have a cat or a dog? the marks around its neck look like it was killed by some larger animal. Our cat brought one home one day & it had similar marks around its neck.

dodderangler

Looks like it was already dead before the bite mark. Extremely skinny lad. Back looks really arched so possibly had distemper ie loss of weight and arched back.
Can be gotten from cats. Lost ferrets to it over the years.

tittybiscuits

Thanks for all the responses! Just curious really that's why I asked. Thought it strange to be lying in the middle of the path and I immediately thought poisoned. I moved it into undergrowth so a raptor wouldn't spot it as there have been some unfortunate red kite poisonings around here in the past (north Dublin).
Probably a bit far from the road to have made it here after getting a tip, Dave. But as you all say it could've been a cat or dog, I didn't actually notice the blood until I looked at the photo after. Distemper is an interesting one dodderangler, I don't know much about diseases mammals can get, is it a common one do you know?
As a slight aside, I found these droppings nearby on a wall, could it be stoat dropping? I didn't think it was a rodent of any sort and it's too small for anything else I'd say. Found it ona wall (about 3 foot high) over a ditch, it didn't really have a smell. No bones that I could see in it but what appeared to be nuts or seeds and some hairs. That over exposed coin is a 5c for scale:


Mystery dropping by nialler78, on Flickr

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Stoat scat varies enormously with diet but the size and more importantly the location is right for a stoat.