Nature's Corner

Stoats: the artful predators.

On a recent car journey up Caerwys road about half a mile out of Dyserth, I noticed something small and dark moving very quickly at the roadside, it then vanished into the grass below an old stone wall; a Stoat......Wow, hadn’t seen one for a long time.

On approaching and slowing down in the car, the little creature reappeared with two others and ventured a few feet into the road before they all hurtled back and disappeared once again. I pulled over onto the opposite verge and parked up, stopping the engine as quickly as possible, winding down the window and waiting.

Within minutes, sure enough, they began to move into the grass from the holes in the wall and then onto the road again in front of the car. As is all too often the case with impromptu wildlife situations, there was a bit of a struggle to get into anything like a comfortable position to hopefully take a photo or two. Three of them out on the road, playing or so it seemed and interacting in an almost snake like fashion as they wrapped themselves around each other for a split second and then upon hearing the slightest noise vanished in an instant into the grass. An approaching car had them hidden for a minute or two but again, even though I was sat in the motor some 5 metres away staying silent, out they came and writhed and wriggled about until the next vehicle passed by.

Stoats are members of the Mustelid family of creatures which includes Weasels, Polecats, Pine Martens, Otters and even Badgers. They are experts at hunting all manner of smaller Mammals such as Mice, Voles and Rabbits. They will also eat birds, chicks and their eggs if the opportunity arises and are able to drag a prey item such as a Rabbit quite a distance to feed their young at the nest; this consists of a mass of grass and leaves usually in a hole in a wall or tree or even a disused Rabbit hole.

They are renowned for being able to mesmerise a Rabbit, almost hypnotising the

poor creature with a spectacular dance routine known as the “Weasel dance“. This allows the Stoat to move increasingly closer to the potential victim until the moment to strike comes, they rarely fail. The Stoat and Weasel are often confused with one another but although similar in shape, the Stoat is a larger animal being about 30-40 cm in length, compared to the Weasels 20-27cm. It also has a much longer tail and a distinctive black tip which stands out against the chestnut-coloured body. A very common and widespread creature in the UK, although seldom seen as they move so quickly often along the base of hedgerows and amongst long vegetation, they can also sometimes be seen running at great speed across a road in front of the car. They live for between 2 and 5 years and will have litters of 6 to 12 youngsters known as Kits.

Stoats living in colder parts such as Scotland have coats that will turn completely white in Winter except for the little black tail end, this is known as Ermine and in other parts of the country where it is not so cold they may have patches of white amongst the brown colouring giving a mottled appearance.

Lovely, albeit deadly little animals rarely seen and so it was such a privilege to have the chance to watch them for the 5 minutes or so that I had with them before they melted away into the countryside that is their home.......Dave Parry.