Parts of the county under recorded. No legal protection in Britain. Stoats are larger than weasels and have longer tails with a distinctive black tip. They are curious animals and can be enticed out into the open by making squeaking noises or imitating a rabbit squeal.
Stoats are carnivorous feeding on rabbits, small rodents, rats, water voles and birds on the ground.
Shortage of food is probably the primary cause of mortality and stoats may also suffer from secondary poisoning in arable areas by consuming rodents contaminated with insecticides or molluscicides. Road casualties take their toll and stoats are regularly killed by gamekeepers although recolonisation is usually rapid.