Since I first spotted the stoat at the beginning of the month I have had at least three trail cameras set in the garden to try to keep an eye on it. There have been 33 recordings, up to 12 in 24 hours and at other times none for a week. Most have been under the dead sycamore but it has also showed up on the "weasel wall". (Interestingly the cameras haven't recorded a weasel since the stoat arrived.). Here's a slightly misted-up view with the dead tree in the foreground, the weasel wall behind at the edge of the meadow and the copse behind that.
I don't think the stoat lives here but it certainly has a couple of hideouts - under the tree and in the wall. Twice it has been carrying food. The first time in daylight it brought a piece of what may be rabbit or possibly squirrel. It took it underground for a few seconds and then brought it out again and ran off. Eight days later the stoat emerged from the hole with something similar at night (I hope it wasn't the same piece). It wasn't seen going in but there is another entrance round the back out of view.
There have been a couple of other night-time recordings, something I have only ever seen once with a weasel. I think stoats have less to fear from owls and are more confident to be out in the dark.
On one intriguing occasion the stoat jumped up onto the wall to look at something behind in the copse. Then it jumped down and ran under the camera. Ten seconds later (I have trimmed the gap) a squirrel appeared from behind the camera and the stoat was already back on the wall, watching (red arrow on the photo). After a few seconds it raced after the squirrel and disappeared out of view. It didn't return to any of the cameras so I'll never know what happened next. Squirrels are pretty fast as well and are better at climbing trees than are stoats.
The last video shows the stoat on the wall. As gardens go I think this is pretty reasonable habitat for a stoat. Let's hope it sticks around into next year.
There have been a couple of other night-time recordings, something I have only ever seen once with a weasel. I think stoats have less to fear from owls and are more confident to be out in the dark.
On one intriguing occasion the stoat jumped up onto the wall to look at something behind in the copse. Then it jumped down and ran under the camera. Ten seconds later (I have trimmed the gap) a squirrel appeared from behind the camera and the stoat was already back on the wall, watching (red arrow on the photo). After a few seconds it raced after the squirrel and disappeared out of view. It didn't return to any of the cameras so I'll never know what happened next. Squirrels are pretty fast as well and are better at climbing trees than are stoats.
The last video shows the stoat on the wall. As gardens go I think this is pretty reasonable habitat for a stoat. Let's hope it sticks around into next year.
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