Mustela erminea
The Stoat is sometimes called a Short-tailed Weasel. It is a very small, slender and nimble animal, about the size of a rat. The female is 16–22 cm long, the male 23–29 cm. The female’s tail measures 7–8 cm, the male’s 9–10 cm; the female weighs 80–150 g, and the male is about twice as heavy, 150–300 g.
In summer the Stoat is yellowish brown above and white below. The colours are clearly separated; the tail is 4–5 cm long with a black tip. In northern Europe, the Stoat has a white coat in winter, though still with the black tip to its tail; but this colour change does not occur in the rest of Europe.
The Stoat prefers areas with tall grass, such as meadows and open fields near woodland, broad hedgerows, and stone walls, also areas near Rabbit colonies. Stoats can also be found in inhabited areas in wood or stone piles, under porches, in roomy cellars, or in sheds and barns.
The Stoat is territorial and active both day and night. It does not dig its own den but instead lives in a variety of natural cavities that can be cushioned with the hair of its prey.
A Stoat in its summer coat. AK.
The Stoat’s tracks are very small and closely resemble those of Western Polecat and American Mink. The tracks are most visible in snow, where they can be seen in paired rows together with marks of the animal’s body. The track sequence is never entirely straight over longer stretches, since Stoats always jump around when hunting and may also disappear under the snow, between stones, rocks, or tree roots, and into other cavities. Occasionally you can see clear hind footprints, and this is where the animal stood upright to scan territory. The length of a Stoat’s jump is 30–70 cm.
A Stoat with a Northern Water Vole. SS.
In northern Europe, the fur of Stoats changes to a white winter coat. AK.
The Stoat has five toes on each foot. The front footprints are about 2 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, the hind footprint, 3.5–4 cm long and about 1.5 cm wide, and tracks are very similar to those of a Weasel.
Stoats feed primarily on small rodents and Northern Water Voles, but also eat the young and eggs of small birds, young hares, Rabbits, and small game birds. The prey is killed with a bite to the neck. The Stoat often drags its prey to a secure feeding site where you can find remnants of the meal. It also caches small amounts of food left from its meals. The Stoat’s scat is 4–8 cm long and about 0.5 cm thick, greyish brown to black, twisted, clumpy, and pointed at one end. The scat contains hair and other remains and smells pungent when fresh. Scat is often left in plain sight in prominent locations.
A Stoat’s tracks in snow. Left, LG; above, AK.
