I have a fascination with stoats. They are cute, lethal, little predators. Last Saturday I drove the long way home from the library in town, along the little country lanes rather than the main road. I’m glad I did, because I came across a stoat on the roadside verge. It was dancing around in true stoat style, and I got a good, if brief view as I passed. This was a couple of miles away from my house, but it shows that stoats are active in the area.
This morning, my wife came across a dead stoat at the end of our road – another road casualty. Being a good wife, she took a picture on her phone and showed it to me (we obviously share an unhealthy interest in roadkill…) and it was definitely a stoat, right down to the black tip on its tail. Weasels lack this black tip.
It’s a shame, as this is the second stoat killed on the road in this spot that I know about. On the plus side, it does mean that we have a population in the area. Despite wandering around here regularly on my Sunday walks I have yet to come across a stoat in it’s natural habitat. This has to be a definite goal for this year – to find and observe a stoat – even if it means sitting out all day. Sooner or later I’ll spot one.
Tales from the Wood - The Diary of a Badger Watching Man 
Hi BWM,
RABBITS!
over the years, For what this may be worth, it has always been in or near to the thorny hedgerows & dry-stone walls close to live poultry, rabbit-holes & small-holdings that I have generally seen these fine creatures. In my teens I remember watching a large rabbit getting dragged off into the undergrowth by what (at the time) seemed like a tiny ferret (probably female stoat).
That Elusive Ermine maybe much nearer than you expect.
http://www.searchnbn.net/organisation/organisation.jsp?orgKey=10621
Hi BWM,
Got to see my first stoat this year, seen a few weasels crossing the lanes but never a stoat then this little beuty just pops up from behind me car just as i’m loading the dog after a early walk. totally spellbinding, got to try and catch one on camare (prepare for a long wait)
regards,
John
Hi John – I wish you the best of luck in your quest! You’re ahead of me on sightings, but like you I’d love to get a picture. One day it’ll happen…
Hi Spiney – that sounds like a great sighting! Once again I’m somewhat jealous. That’s exactly the sort of thing I’d love to see.
And I think you’re spot on with the rabbits. There are very extensive rabbit warrens all around the area, so it’s the perfect hunting ground for stoats. There is also a big pheasant-rearing pen too. The downside of this is that I’ll bet the local keepers aren’t too keen on having stoats about, but it does make it a perfect spot for them. The frustrating thing is that all this is within a few hundred yards of my house and I’ve yet to see a stoat on my walks, but sooner or later I’ll get lucky.