Weasels

(Mustela nivalis)

Creative Commons - credit Kevin Law

Weasels belong to the family mustellidae along with stoats, pine martens, otters, badgers and polecats. They are very efficient hunters and can tackle prey up to the size of rabbits. Mostly they prey upon small mammals such as voles which are killed with a bite to the back of the skull. In the northern part of their range, which includes Rannoch, they turn white in winter. They are found throughout the northern hemisphere and have (foolishly) been introduced to places such as New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and Canary Islands. In New Zealand along with stoats they have been a disaster for the native birds.

They are rather like small versions of the stoat but they lack the black tip to the tail.

In Rannoch they may be preyed upon by stoats, buzzards, foxes and owls.

We have seen a weasel hunting in our garden, disappearing down vole tunnels.

A pleasing Recent sighting of a weasel -

A combined cycle and walk - cycling to Kinloch Rannoch and then walking up beyond the Allt Mor hydro intake. On the outward walk taking the more direct track up from the waterfall and returning on the more westerly section of the Millennium track.

The conditions were high cloud with the occasional sunny interval. We heard willow warblers, tree pipits and ravens. Perhaps the two natural history highlights were an ants’ nest (Myrmica rubra) under a stone by the track (stone replaced) and five minutes watching a weasel hunt amongst rocks at the hydro intake. The weasel popped up from between the rocks and we kept very still so that it was not aware of us. It moved like lightning in and out of the rocks, now standing stock still with its head showing and now disappearing as if a magician had waved a wand. It would then emerge nearby and disappear repeatedly. We watched it for about five minutes getting great views of its white underbelly and glowing russet coat. We were able note that it did not have a black tip to its tail (as would be the case in the larger stoat). It crossed the burn on rocks and continued its hunting amongst the rocks of the dyke that lead off into the distance toward Craig Varr. This was to the disquiet of a wren whose nest is probably in amongst the rocks of the dyke. I would not be surprised if the wren lost its eggs or fledglings. Weasels are formidable hunters of immense speed with the ability pass through tiny openings. They are said to be able to pass through a wedding ring. (29th April 2020)