Stoats and Weasels

Stoats and Weasels will not usually attack large chickens but can be a problem with smaller birds such as bantams, guinea fowl, call ducks, quail and many species of wild fowl as well as chicks and growers. Both have the same diet and similar habitats although they do tend to avoid each other.

Differences between a Stoat and Weasel.

Visually, Stoats and Weasels look very similar. They are light brown with a pale underside. A Stoat can grow slightly bigger than a Weasel and is usually slightly heavier. The give away is a Stoat has a black tip on the end of his tail.

Stoats and Poultry

We will mainly consider stoats in this article although both stoats and weasels can cause similar damage. If they are found in the area, there will be an absence of rats and mice since they also fall victim to this killer. A stoat can do a great deal of damage. Similar to a fox, it will kill many birds, only eating one. They can be particularly difficult to shoot as they are fast moving and it is not often you get a glimpse of one and they usually do their hunting at night.

How to catch a Stoat or Weasel

A trap is the best way to catch a Stoat and there are three methods that have been used successfully. The first method is to lay a drain pipe in one of the stoat's tracks. Stoats always prefer to run under cover by choice. Set a sprung rat trap at the exit of the pipe. Peg this down so that it cannot be pushed out of the way and the stoat should set it off when he runs out of the end of the tube.
The second method of trapping a stoat is to use a standard metal cage rat trap. If you have found a dead bird that has been partially eaten by the stoat, this method is idea. Place the remains of the bird in the trap as bait and when the stoat comes back, it is likely that he will go to this for another feed and become trapped. Dispatch him with an air rifle. Do not try to take him out of the cage because he will give you a nasty bite or escape when you open the trap just a little!

The final method again involves having a chicken or other bird as bait. Hang this about 50cm from the ground. Set a sprung rat trap or two beneath the bird. The stoat will keep trying to reach the bird by jumping up to the carcass and will fall onto the trap in his efforts.

Picture right courtesy of Bridget Burman. This stoat killed several ornamental wildfowl and guinea fowl before it was finally trapped and killed.