| Stoat - Mustela erminea - Family: Mustelidae
 Stoat - Mustela erminea© Robin Chittenden www.harlequinpictures.co.ukThe stoat has chestnut brown upper fur with a white belly. It can easily be distinguished from the weasel by its larger size and a black tip to the tail. In the winter, in northern areas, its fur will turn completely white, except for the tip of the tail which remains black. This white fur is known as ermine and was used to make the ceremonial robes for kings and queens. This change of colour helps the animal to blend in with its snowy surroundings. It lives typically in woodlands but can be found in any habitat throughout Britain and Ireland. This is a mainly carnivorous animal which hunts a great deal at night, although it can occasionally be seen during the day. However, like many successful mammals it is an opportunistic feeder, rarely turning down anything faintly edible. Its den is usually found in a hollow tree, a rock crevice, or a disused burrow and this is used as the focal point of its home range. The female produces one litter, of four or five young, in April or May. The male takes no part in raising the young which are weaned at five weeks. The stoat is an energetic and curious animal with very acute senses of smell and hearing, but rather poor sight. It has few enemies other than man, although owls will sometimes take young animals, as will foxes, if they get the chance. FoodRats, mice, voles, shrews and young rabbits, but also small fish, reptiles, birds' eggs, berries and insects. PreyBank vole, Common shrew, Dormouse, Grass snake, Rabbit, Slow-worm, Small fish, Water vole, Wood mouse, Yellow-necked mouse PredatorsFox, Tawny owl |
