Stoats

mikep

We have a stoat (or two?) in the garden, last night it zipped across the decking outside the back door and up into the back garden. It returned a couple of mins later with a baby rabbit in its mouth, back across the deck and passed by the windows where it spotted me and dropped the rabbit and hid until I fecked off.

My wife is a bit freaked out by them so I was wondering has anyone any experience of them, would they come into the house through an open door? I love having them around as they keep the rabbits in check and hopefully the rates too..

Any thoughts appreciated...

dodderangler

I wouldn't say they'd come near the house and even then they're not dangerous.
Absolutely love stoats. Gorgeous little things and so smart and exceptionally strong. Fully grown rabbits being dragged across a field in seconds.

mikep

Thanks for that.
I love them too, have had them about the place for the last couple of years. Great at keeping the rabbits and rats in check. The Mrs. began to get freaked when they came up on the deck beside her last summer. I think they were after the water bowl we had out for the birds.
I hope to get some pics this year...

swifts need our help!

Lucky you!

Birdnuts

mikep wrote: »

We have a stoat (or two?) in the garden, last night it zipped across the decking outside the back door and up into the back garden. It returned a couple of mins later with a baby rabbit in its mouth, back across the deck and passed by the windows where it spotted me and dropped the rabbit and hid until I fecked off.

My wife is a bit freaked out by them so I was wondering has anyone any experience of them, would they come into the house through an open door? I love having them around as they keep the rabbits in check and hopefully the rates too..

Any thoughts appreciated...

Wouldn't mind having a few stoats about - appear to be developing a wee mouse problem in and around the dog kennels:mad:

mr.wiggle

Would dogs not attack them?

I was in the car two years ago coming down our country lane when the
wife jammed on the breaks. There in front of us was a mother and her young, about 5 of them , crossing the lane. We hear this 'wee-barking' to our right and roll down the window. Up on the ditch looking in the window at us was a scared youngster calling out to mom. Once mom had made sure the others were across the lane, she crossed back over, jumped up on the ditch and grabbed the last one by his neck and carried him across. It was a lovely scene that we felt blessed to watch.