Strengthening the chicken coop from predators. Are weasels and stoats different animals? Enemies of the ferret in nature

Small predators are big fans of feasting on poultry, and farmers often encounter sad cases of raids on chicken coops. The ferret, entering the barn at night, strangles and eats poultry, chickens, chicks and even geese. Weasels, martens and stoats also occasionally hunt them. They live mainly in swampy areas, as well as in forests and fields. Small predators destroy rodents in the field, bringing great benefits to farmers. In turn, wolves and foxes feed on weasels and ferrets.

Ferrets are very dangerous to chickens

Ferret behavior

If a ferret or marten is spotted near a farm, expect trouble. When hunting, small predators behave very carefully, so it is almost impossible to take them by surprise. If on a winter morning the owner of the chicken coop discovers peculiar traces in the yard, the so-called “two-points,” it means that an uninvited guest was in charge here the day before. Moving in jumps, these predators leave marks on the snow, by which you can easily determine what type of animal was visiting. For a weasel, the distance between tracks is 20-30 cm, for a marten it is 30-40, and for a ferret it is approximately 50-60.

The tree ferret is the most harmful species to poultry farms. He is distinguished by cruelty and bloodthirstiness. Having a relatively small size (30-45 cm), it is capable of tearing apart and destroying as many poultry as it can manage in one raid.

Chicken coop after a visit from a predator

The ferret attacks and crushes its prey with its paws and then eats it. It mainly prefers small chicken, but most of its prey are chickens. A lot of birds remain untouched after it. A ferret can only eat one or two carcasses at a time. When catching its victims, the predator does not eat their head, it chews it off. The delicate tissues of the head quickly rot and thus spoil the entire bird carcass.

Behavior of weasels and martens

To get rid of weasels in the chicken coop, you need to know a few facts about this animal and understand the reason for its penetration into poultry.

The weasel, like the ferret, is a merciless and cunning animal that eats domestic animals. You need to have considerable dexterity to catch a weasel. For a person this is almost impossible. Despite her cute appearance, she ferociously strangles and tears her prey to shreds. After she is satisfied, up to several dozen headless chickens or chicks remain in the barn.

Weasels rarely raid the chicken coop. She mainly eats rats and mice. Only in the absence of this food does it begin to hunt poultry. There are cases in villages when she sneaks into people's houses and attacks cats and dogs. The weasel has very sharp, needle-like teeth, so it can easily kill a small goose or chicken.

Weasel is difficult to see and catch. With the help of traps, this mission can be completed quite effectively.

Marten is the enemy of chickens

The marten is a beautiful nocturnal predator, possessing natural grace and well-developed dexterity. Mystical and supernatural properties have long been attributed to this animal, thanks to its ability to make lightning-fast attacks on its prey and then quickly run away. Habitat - deciduous and coniferous forests, where the marten eats small birds, squirrels and rats. Leads a predominantly nomadic lifestyle. During the period of birth and feeding of her cubs, she settles in tree hollows or among the roots of old trees.

Usually the marten eats rodents and small birds; in rare cases it can catch a hare or black grouse. If there are villages with chicken coops near the forest, the animal may well become an uninvited guest there and feast on poultry. Making its way into barns or human dwellings, it first crushes and gnaws the throat of its victim, and then eats it. It is quite difficult to catch a marten in a chicken coop on your own due to its speed of movement and dexterity. You will need specially equipped traps and traps.

Methods for entering a chicken coop

How these petty thieves get into barns and chicken coops: it’s all about the cracks and crevices formed in the foundation and walls of the premises.

The chicken house needs to be strengthened so that enemies cannot climb in

The anatomy allows these animals to squeeze through even very small holes. In the old, rotten walls of barns, it will not be difficult for a ferret to gnaw through rotten boards and get inside. They also use existing mouse holes. If there is not a single crack and it is not possible to create a tunnel, the animal makes its way inside through a ventilation hole or independently digs a path under the chicken coop with its claws and sharp fangs.

To prevent forest animals from getting into the room, all cracks and holes in the walls need to be repaired, and a mesh should be installed in the ventilation system. When building a new house for chickens, geese and ducks, strong walls without cracks are very important, and the foundation needs to be made somewhat thicker than usual so that the animal does not sneak out from the floor.

Methods of protection

Getting rid of weasels and other pests is not that difficult. You just need to know the principle of operation of traps and make traps that will allow you to avoid the death of poultry in time. In order not to go broke after the attacks of insidious ferrets and martens, people have come up with a lot of ways to catch them since ancient times.

To catch them yourself, you will need just a few simple items:

large bucket;
ferret bait;
two liter bottle. Then a trap is made, for the manufacture of which you will need:
the top and bottom parts of the plastic bottle are cut off;
At one end, bait is installed from the products that the predator eats.

Traps and snares can be used to control predators.

a piece of pork or lamb is perfect for this, since fresh meat emits a characteristic smell and is an accessible prey;
in the place where the animal was often seen, a chair is placed on which the bottle is placed so that the bait is on the edge of the chair;
then a bucket is placed under the chair, with the hope of catching the ferret when it falls from the chair;
You need to secure the lid on the bucket so that at the slightest vibration of the bucket it falls from above and covers the opening of the bucket.

Once the trap is set, all that remains is to wait for the new visit of the uninvited guest and hope that the trick will work. When the ferret picks up the piece of meat, his body weight will outweigh the bottle and he will fall into the trap. It is important to hear the noise in time and have time to secure the lid tightly. After this, the caught pest is taken away from the home and released into the wild.

Large mousetraps, which are usually used to catch rats, will help keep your ferret away from the chicken coop. Having previously placed the meat there, the mousetrap is placed in the most visible place. The weasel and ferret quickly fall into such a trap.

Types of traps

To get rid of small pests and successfully fight them, several types of traps have been created that are used to firmly hold the animal. They give a high guarantee and come in plate and frame versions. When an animal gets into it, with the help of springs and plates the device tightly pinches its neck and paws, completely immobilizing it. There are times when an animal runs away with a trap. To prevent this from happening, it must be tightly attached.

For caressing, frame devices are used, which are relatively smaller than plate devices intended for large predators. The cunning animal is able to gnaw through the canvas that serves as the base of the trap and escape.

To ensure that the ferret in the chicken coop remains only a bad memory, when building a farm it is important to adhere to all safety rules and build the premises strong and without cracks.

Ferret (ferret) is a predatory mammal, belongs to the mustelidae family, the genus of ferrets and weasels ( Mustela), subgenus Putorius.

Ferret - description, characteristics, structure. What does a ferret look like?

The body of ferrets, like most mustelids, is elongated, flexible and very squat, due to disproportionately short legs. The ferret's limbs are very strong and muscular, thanks to which the animals easily move by jumping and swim well. The toes end in long, strong claws, which allow ferrets to deftly climb trees and dig deep holes.

The average body length of adult males is about 50 cm, female ferrets are always smaller and grow up to 40 cm in length. The weight of a ferret, depending on the species, ranges from 300 g to 2 kg.

The ferret has a long flexible neck, a neat oval-shaped head and an elongated muzzle, slightly blunted towards the tip of the nose. Ferrets are particularly proud of their fluffy tail, which grows to 13-18 cm in length.

A ferret's fur typically consists of a thick, soft underfur and guard hairs, which are usually lighter at the base and darker at the tip. After the autumn molt, the ferret's fur acquires a characteristic shine and becomes especially beautiful.

Fur color depends on the species and can vary from a light sandy shade to almost black or completely white in albino ferrets.

All trochees (except for species with a white color) have a peculiar pattern on their muzzle, reminiscent of a black mask.

Near the ferret's tail there are special glands that secrete a specific secretion, which has a sharp, pungent odor and is used by the animals to scare off enemies. Of all the senses, the ferret has a well-developed sense of smell, which is what the animals rely on when hunting.

In total, the ferret has 28-30 teeth: 12-14 incisors, 12 false-rooted teeth, premolars, and there is also a pair of fangs on each jaw.

The lifespan of a ferret in the wild is about 3-4 years; in captivity, ferrets live up to 5-7 years.

Enemies of the ferret in nature

The main enemies of ferrets wildlife- that's more large predators:, often young ferrets become prey to feathered predators - and. In some areas, the ferret is a valuable game animal, so the animals are mercilessly exterminated for the sake of warm, soft and beautiful fur.

Types of ferrets, photos and names

The classification of ferrets includes 3 main types:

, aka light ferret or white ferret, also known as steppe, light or white ferret(Mustela eversmanni)

a large ferret, growing up to 52-56 cm in length with a body weight of up to 2 kg. The length of the tail of adult individuals is 18 cm. The light-colored ferret has long but sparse guard hair of a brownish color, so a dense underfur shines through the fur - additional hair of a lighter tone. The limbs, tail or its tip are dark in color, and the muzzle is covered with a mask. The steppe ferret eats quite varied. In the warm season, pikas and invertebrates become its prey. To a lesser extent, amphibians and birds are food. In winter, the diet is limited to hamsters and voles, which can be caught in the steppe. Since digging rodent burrows becomes impossible, the animals are content with carrion and food waste that they find near people’s homes, and in the spring they pick up dead fish in river floods. If there is a sufficient amount of food, the animals avoid populated areas. Female steppe ferrets are extremely fertile and give birth to about 7-10 and even up to 18 cubs. On European territory, ferrets live in the Czech Republic, eastern Austria, southern Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, northern Bulgaria, Moldova, and Poland. In addition, ferrets are found in the Middle and Central Asia, in the steppes, forest-steppes and semi-deserts of Russia from its European part to the Far East, as well as in the eastern part of China.

- The only subspecies of the light-colored ferret is Amur steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni amurensis)

The body length of the animal reaches 56 cm, the tail length is 18 cm, and the weight is no more than 2 kg. The color of the fur is dominated by white and yellowish tones. The animal's abdomen is light, the tip of the tail and paws are black, and there is a pattern in the form of a mask on the muzzle. The main part of the population of the subspecies is concentrated in the northeast of China; in Russia it is found in the steppe landscapes of the Middle Amur.

Forest ferret, aka common ferret or black ferret, which is also called ordinary, dark or black ferret(Mustela putorius )

The forest ferret is smaller in size than its steppe relative: the body length is about 36-48 cm, weight from 400 g to 1.5 kg, and females are 1.5 times smaller than males. The tail of the male ferret has a length of 15 to 17 cm, in females it is 8.5-17 cm. Unlike the steppe animal, the color of the black ferret does not have a sharp contrast between the color of the legs and body. The main color of mature individuals is black-brown, and the legs, tail, throat and dewlap are almost black. The muzzle is decorated with a characteristic mask. Pure white or red ferrets are also common in the population. The basis of the forest ferret's diet is mice and voles; additional food includes snakes, frogs, birds and their eggs. Forest ferrets tear open holes and eat their offspring. Individuals living near populated areas will not miss the opportunity to feast on rabbits and poultry. Unlike the fertile steppe ferret, the female black ferret gives birth to only 4-6 pups. Forest ferrets live throughout Eurasia, especially in Western Europe and practically throughout the entire European territory of Russia. The animal prefers groves and woodlands and waits for prey on the edges of forests, which is why it is called an “edge” predator. Together with weasels, the black ferret was brought to New Zealand to destroy rodents, where it successfully took root and became a threat to the local island fauna.

- Ferret (domestic ferret, African ferret), also known as furo ( Mustela putorius furo)

domesticated form of the black ferret. Scientists and livestock breeders use the name “furo” exclusively to refer to albino ferrets, although a domestic ferret can be an animal of any solid color (white, black, brown) or a combination of color types. The body length of an adult domestic ferret is about 51 cm with a body weight of 700 g to 2 kg. The length of the tail reaches approximately 13 cm. Furo is bred both in its pure form and by crossing with natural views. The Poles nicknamed the hybrid furo and forest ferret “thuzhofretka,” which in Russian sounds like “chorefretka.”

As a result of crossing the forest ferret with the ferret, the golden ferret, the first Russian breed of ferrets.

This is a large animal with thick silky fur, which is distinguished by black guard hairs with orange underfur. Female golden ferrets reach a length of 39 cm, males are larger - their body length is 46 cm.

American ferret, aka black-footed ferret(Mustela nigripes)

a rare species of North American predators, which is protected by the United States and is listed in the Red Book as endangered. The body length of the American ferret does not exceed 31-41 cm, and the body weight ranges from 650 g to 1 kg. The animal's fluffy tail grows up to 11-15 cm in length. The hair is white at the base and dark at the tips, which gives the impression of an overall yellow-brown color. The tip of the ferret's tail and limbs are black, and there is a distinctive black mask on the face. American ferrets live in the central United States, in the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains. Ferrets feed on mice, voles, and ground squirrels, but the survival of the black-footed ferret is entirely dependent on the population of prairie dogs, which are its main source of food. One colony of blennies covers 50 hectares of prairie and can only support one adult ferret, with one family of ferrets requiring about 250 rodents per year to survive. In the 1980s, the remaining representatives of the American ferret species were caught for artificial breeding and are released into the wild in some states of the USA and Mexico in order to revive the population.

Honorik is an artificially produced hybrid of a ferret (bred by crossing the steppe and forest ferrets) and the European mink. Honoriki rarely appear in the wild in areas where the ranges of these 3 species overlap. Honoriki are larger than their parents and inherit their traits equally. Externally, the animals resemble a mink, and their black, shiny guard hair with a thick brown underfur is very similar to sable fur. From ferrets, the animals got large ears with a light border around the edges. Honoriki, like minks, are excellent swimmers, and from trochees they adopted the ability to dig holes. Their own character trait is rare aggressiveness and inability to get along with people.

Where do ferrets live?

Ferrets live in European countries (including England), the USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, China, countries of Central and Central Asia, and northwest Africa. At one time, forest ferrets were brought to New Zealand to fight rats and mice, as a result of which the predators spread there too. The habitat of ferrets is steppes, semi-deserts, sparse forests and even settlements. The animals avoid open areas and dense taiga. Ferrets lead sedentary image life, are strongly attached to their habitat and are typical nocturnal predators. Ferrets extremely rarely dig holes and more often occupy the homes of other animals, for example, foxes or, they can settle in the voids of old trees, in a haystack, a firewood shed or in a pile of dead wood.

What do ferrets eat?

Ferrets do not have a cecum, and due to low amylase synthesis, their body does not digest plant foods well. The basis of the animals' diet consists of various types of small rodents: voles, mice, hamsters, water rats. In the spring, animals destroy bird nests, dig up hare holes, and large species attack muskrats and gophers. A small part of the diet consists of large species of insects, frogs, fish, snakes, etc. Animals prepare for winter in advance by storing excess food in their homes.

The main method of ferret hunting is to lie in wait for prey at the entrance to the shelter. In other cases, you have to run and catch the prey. Often, hunger forces ferrets to eat carrion and food waste, destroy poultry houses and rabbit farms. And the bad reputation of ferrets as arrogant and unscrupulous predators is greatly exaggerated in to a greater extent because of the ignorance of the people themselves. Most of the “sins” are pinned on animals in vain and crimes committed by martens, weasels and foxes are attributed to animals.

Ferret breeding

The breeding season of ferrets depends on their habitat and lasts from February to the end of summer. In steppe ferrets, the rut occurs early spring. For forest ferrets, the rut begins in April-May, sometimes in the second half of June. The animal reaches sexual maturity at the age of 10-12 months, and no special mating rituals are observed among the animals. Mating of ferrets occurs violently and aggressively: the male ferret grabs the female by the scruff of the neck, despite her resistance. Therefore, after the process is completed, females are often left with shabby withers, on which traces of the male’s teeth are visible.

The pregnancy of a female ferret lasts on average 1.5 months, and the litter ranges from 4 to 18 cubs. The weight of newborn ferrets is about 5-10 g; the cubs are born blind and helpless, but grow and develop quite quickly. Breast-feeding lasts about 2-2.5 months, and the mother begins to feed 4-week-old cubs with meat.

At the age of 7-8 weeks, young ferrets are already able to hunt, although they continue to feed on their mother's milk. In case of any danger, the mother selflessly protects her offspring.

For up to six months, young ferrets hunt together with the female, gaining useful skills, and then move on to independent life.

Ferret colors with photos

According to Russian classification There are 3 color options for ferrets:

Pearlescent color(it includes silver and sable colors). The general color of a ferret's fur is light cream and may have an ash or silver tint. The awn is black or brown, the tips of the hair are cream or gray.
Golden color. The general color of ferrets is yellowish or closer to orange. The awn is black, the tips of the hair are red.
Pastel color. The overall color is light cream. The guard hairs are light brown and may have a smoky tint. The ends of the hair are light gray or cream.

According to the American classification from the AFA (American Ferret Association), there are 8 colors and 4 colors of ferrets, however, this classification is also not complete and does not include all the color variety of the fur of these animals. The color of a ferret usually means the color of the guard hair and underfur, as well as the color of the eyes and nose. Coloring refers to a pattern that is formed by combining different colors. Another characteristic of a ferret's fur are marks, spots, which, depending on their location or combination, are divided into several variations.

The AFA recognizes the following colors for ferrets:

albino(albino, red-eyed white)

Fur with white underfur (sometimes with light cream patches) and awns of the same shade. A ferret's eyes are always red, his nose is only pink;

black

The guard hair is black. The underfur is white or golden in color. Ferrets of this color have black eyes and a nose of the same color (a motley nose is allowed);

sable

The awn is warm brown, the underfur is white, cream or light golden in color. The eyes can be brown or almost black, the nose is brown or light brown, there are individuals with spotted noses and with a T-shaped pattern;

black sable

The fur is distinguished by black-brown or dark ash guard hair with a pronounced glossy sheen and underfur from white to cream tones. The ferret's eyes are dark, almost black, the nose is black-brown and may be spotted;

champagne

The guard hair is colored brown or light brown, the shade of the underfur varies from white to cream, without splashes of yellowness. Eyes cherry or dark cherry color, nose pink, beige or pink with a T-shaped stripe of brown color;

chocolate

The awn is “milk chocolate” color, the underfur is white or with a slight yellowish tint. The ferret's eyes are dark cherry or brown, the nose can be light beige, pink, pink with dark stripes in the shape of the letter T, sometimes there are individuals with a brick-colored nose;

cinnamon

The guard hair is colored in a rich shade red-brown color, the underfur is golden, sometimes pure white. The ferret's eyes are light or dark brown, the nose is pink or not completely colored.

dark-eyed white

The awn and underfur vary from pure white to light cream. A ferret's eyes can be dark cherry or dark brown, and the animal's nose is always pink.

According to the AFA, ferrets are classified not only by color, but also by coloration, which is determined by the color of the nose, the type of mask on the animal's face, and the concentration of color on the legs, tail and body. There are 4 types of colors:

Siamese (siamese),
roan
solid
standard

In addition, it is customary to take into account the presence of peculiar spots and marks on the ferret. white: depending on their location (on the tail, muzzle, body, limbs, head or neck), the American Ferret Association designates variations under the names:

Blaze (blaze - flash),
Mitts (mits - mittens),
Panda (panda).

The weasel and ferret are some of the most confusing animals if they don't look closely. It appears to be a cousin of the other one, which has long tubular bodies, although in different dimensions. They belong to the scientific parent name Mustelidae. However, there are significant differences between these types, as this article elaborates as follows.

What is a weasel?

With a long tubular body and long tail, the weasel is a wild and often solitary animal compared to the ferret. It has a slender body that often comes to life when hunting its prey in small holes. Typically, the weasel's body size ranges from 6.8 to 8.5 inches. It has a long tail, which also gives it balance when hunting its target prey. Females are smaller than males.

In appearance, the weasel has a red-brown coat with a white underbelly coat. The picture below shows the difference between these animals.

The weasel rarely becomes a pet due to its aggressiveness, even to people. It is known to prey on birds, so many homeowners rarely consider it a pet. Weasels hunt snakes, birds, mice, rats and rabbits. He can even kill for a trophy, as most of his kills go empty. Unlike the ferret, the weasel is not a nocturnal animal. He sleeps at night and hunts during the day. In addition, weasels are rarely in groups, as they often fight.

There are 17 species in the Mustelidae family and weasels belong to 10 of the 17 species. Ferrets, on the other hand, are a subspecies of the ferret division Mustelidae. Both of these animals have thick fur and a thin body. Hunting habits, characteristics and appearance vary.

What is Ferret?

As noted above, the ferret falls under the ferret division Mustelidae. The ferret has a longer body with a shorter tail compared to the weasel. Because of their communication, ferrets have been domesticated for over 2,000 years. They can keep rats, mice and snakes under control in the household, so they are liked as pets. Additionally, ferrets can be found in groups, unlike weasels.

Ferrets are crepuscular and nocturnal animals and can hunt their prey to drink blood. Typically, the ferret has a black brown coat with some white additions. Ferrets are generally larger than weasels but have a shorter tail of about 5 inches, while the tail tail is about 13 inches long. Ferrets can grow up to 24 inches, while weasels can grow from 5 to 18 inches.

Key Differences Between Weasels and Ferrets

Origin of Weasels Vs. Ferrets

Both ferrets and weasels fall under the scientific name Mustelidae. Fins are part of 10 species of 17 species in the Mustelidae. Ferrets, on the other hand, are a subspecies within the choreodal division Mustelidae.

Appearance of Weasels Vs. Ferrets

Ferrets have a dark brown appearance with a large tubular but thin body. It has longer legs than weasels. Black and brown ferrets have a mixture of white or cream colors. Weasels have a red-brown appearance with a white underbelly.

Body and Tail Length for Weasels Vs. Ferrets

Ferrets can grow up to 24 inches from nose to tail with a tail measuring 5 inches. Weasels can grow up to 18 inches with a tail measuring 13 inches. Both animals have a thin and tubular body. Although ferrets are relatively longer and larger, they have a shorter tail.

Weasel Behavior and Hunting Vs. Ferrets

Ducks are solid creatures because they fight if they are in groups. In addition, they hunt during the day and sleep at night. Ferrets, on the other hand, are nocturnal creatures. The creatures eat meat, that is, mice, rats, snakes, rabbits and many others. Ducks can kill and leave them killed untouched. Ferrets can kill and drink blood to kill them.

Commonwealth Weasels Vs. Ferrets

Ferrets have been domesticated for over 2,000 years in many countries because of their communication skills. They can be good deterrents for snakes and rats in households without posing a danger to the owner. On the other hand, weasels are not user-friendly creatures. They can be aggressive and wild to people, so they are rarely tamed. Ferrets can be taught tricks. However, weasels can be domesticated in very early age before maturity.

Comparison Chart of Weasels Vs. Ferrets

Summary Weasels Vs. Ferrets

Ferrets have more long bodies up to 24 inches with tail growing to 5 inches
Weasels, on the other hand, have more long tails and long bodies, but smaller than the bodies of ferrets
A ferret can hunt at night, but a weasel can hunt during the day.
Ferrets have been used as pets for over 2,000 years
Lights are rarely, if ever, kept as pets due to their aggressive behavior
These creatures feed on small animals such as rats, mice, rabbits, snakes, birds, etc.
Ferrets have a black and brown coat with a mixture of white
Weasels have a red-brown coat with a white underbelly.
Both animals fall under the family Mustelidae
They have thick fur on a thin tubular body
Very fast animals even enter narrow openings when hunting for their prey
Their hunting habits are different. Ferrets can drink the blood of their kills, and weasels can kill and leave the kill untouched.

The question “what is the difference between a weasel and an ermine” is not as simple as it seems at first glance. The differences concern not only appearance, but also nutrition, sexual behavior and commercial value of these animals.

Appearance

The weasel is the smallest in the mustelidae family. Thus, the lesser weasel grows the size of a palm (11 cm), and the length of the common weasel is 21–26 cm.

This is interesting! The ermine is somewhat larger than a weasel. True, sometimes there are individuals equal to it in length, but in general the ermine is still larger/heavier and is capable of growing up to 36 cm.

Both predators are colored the same: in summer – brownish-brown, in winter – snow-white. But the ermine is distinguished by a specific detail - the black tip of the tail, especially noticeable among the snow and ice. Both animals have similar anatomical structure- elongated body, narrow head, short legs and neat rounded ears.

If you happen to spot one of these mustelids, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the tail. A well-defined tail 6–10 cm long, almost a third black, will tell you that this is an ermine. If the flashing creature wiggles its short appendage (3-4 cm), it means you have met a weasel.

Traces

As soon as the first snow falls, the naturalist has an additional opportunity to distinguish between a weasel and an ermine - by their tracks and patterns of running. Experienced hunters know that weasels often place their paws in pairs (“doubles”), and a jumping stoat leaves prints of three paws (“triples”).

This is interesting! They also say that the weasel walks with a double leg: the hind paw hits the impression of the front paw, covering it. The ermine, on the contrary, more often switches to a three-beam and even a four-bead, especially when gaining greater speed.

The most obvious tracks (with details) are visible in wet, shallow snow. In both animals, the print of the front paw is slightly smaller and rounder than the print of the hind paw. The sizes of the tracks left by these predators also vary. In a weasel, the print of the hind paw is approximately 3 * 1.5 cm, the front one is 1.5 * 1 cm, so the depression from a pair of paws occupies 3 * 2 cm. The limbs of the ermine are usually larger, which also affects the size of the footprint: the print of the front paw is closer to 3.3 * 2 cm, and the back - to 4.4 * 2.3 cm. It is easy to distinguish the traces of the average representatives of the ermine and weasel - the former will always have larger ones.

Difficulties arise when comparing prints of a large weasel and a small ermine: the difference between them is so insignificant that even fishermen get confused. Identification of footprints is complicated not only by the similar size of the animals, but also by the surface where the prints are found. Their contours blur (giving extra volume to the tracks) both on dry sand in summer and on loose snow in winter. You can also distinguish between a weasel and an ermine by the length of its jump: in the former, when moving slowly, it is 25 cm and doubles when accelerating.

The ermine, in a calm search, jumps 0.3–0.4 m, making record jumps of 0.8–1 m when switching to a fast gait. Both predators like to change direction when they are in active search food.

The trail is observed along the surface: it either crosses a ditch, then turns towards the bushes, goes out onto an icy swamp, or, making an arc, returns to an already examined place. The weasel more often and more readily than the ermine disappears under the ground/snow, not appearing on the surface for a long time. Due to its compactness, the animal quickly runs through snowy passages and burrows, chasing small rodents.

Nutrition

Ermine and weasel are real predators with excellent hunting reflexes, preying on any sized living creature (usually warm-blooded) and, in its absence, switching to other vertebrates and mollusks/insects. Zoologists consider the weasel, which has less strength, to be more competitive, since it is more compact and fits into narrow burrows that are inaccessible to the stoat. On the other hand, the small size of the weasel’s body is responsible for more intense energy exchange, and here the ermine is in an advantageous position.

Important! In cold weather, energy consumption increases and hunting becomes more difficult, but the ermine tolerates the winter depletion of food supply much more easily than the weasel.

In addition, the ermine is saved by its broader (compared to the weasel) food specialization - it is not squeamish and quickly switches to other food (amphibians, birds, insects and even carrion).

This is where the differences end - if there is a lot of prey, both predators do not know how to stop, exterminating the same voles “in reserve.” Occasionally, the weasel and ermine actually set up storehouses, dragging their victims there, but often they remain uneaten. Also, both mustelids are known for the fact that they do not hesitate to kill animals with a pungent odor, such as moles and shrews.

Sexual behavior

Geneticists have repeatedly asked the question “whether crossing a weasel with an ermine is possible” and came to the conclusion that, most likely, not. This is explained not only by discrepant periods of reproduction, but, above all, by differences at the genetic level (with undeniable external similarities).

True, the details of weasel reproduction have been studied less scrupulously than those of the ermine.. It has only been established that the mating season for weasels occurs in March, gestation lasts 5 weeks and ends with the appearance of 3–8 (usually 5–6) cubs. The ermine rut starts as soon as the snow melts and lasts until September.

This is interesting! Female ermine are characterized by “delayed pregnancy”: the seed is preserved inside the body in order to fertilize the egg after a while (with plenty of food and good weather).

Fetal development can begin with a delay of 196–365 days, and gestation itself takes 224–393 days - these periods are surprising not only for the mustelid family, but also for mammals in general.

Another phenomenon has been noted in the reproduction of ermine - males who come across a nest with a female cover not only her, but also her newborn daughters. “Grooms” are not embarrassed by the infancy of “brides”, who do not have time to see and gain hearing before the first sexual intercourse. Thus, many females, by the time of their fertility (2 months), retain “preserved” sperm inside the body and do not need a partner.

They just need to start the process of fertilization, which smoothly flows into gestation. Small stoats also have their own peculiarity - this is the “cohesion effect”, when the cubs join into a dense ball that is difficult to separate from the outside. This is how newborns retain the warmth they need at this tender age.

Predators are different. Many believe that this order of mammals is limited to tigers, brown bears, wolves and other large creatures of the animal world. However, the world of carnivores also exists in a smaller version. Weasels, stoats, ferrets or martens are miniature predatory animals.

With the onset of cold weather, many farmers are faced with the problem of attacks on chicken coops by petty robbers, and weasel attacks are especially common. How to get rid of weasels and protect your pets is a pressing problem and, fortunately, easily solvable.

These petty farmland thieves are excellent hunters and love flesh: the two distinctive molars in the jaw, designed for cutting meat, speak for themselves. Raiding a nearby chicken coop is a piece of cake for them. Moreover, the methods they choose are not the most humane: a ferret, for example, climbs into a poultry house under the cover of darkness and, despite its small size - only 50 cm in length, can easily strangle a chicken or even a goose. The raids of representatives of the mustelid family, to which these half-meter-tall creatures belong, become more frequent with the onset of cold weather, but also in summer time year this problem is topical.

Before you protect your pets, you should compile a detailed dossier on a representative of this huge family. Mustelidae is a family very rich in various species, in the center of which is the European pine marten. Mink, grison, ferret, skunk, badger, wolverine, otter, weasel, ermine - far from full list these nimble and agile inhabitants of forests, fields and swamps. Russian farmers most often encounter weasel attacks.

Weasel: habits and body features

This representative of mustelids is characterized by:

small in stature;
short paws with 5 toes;
elongated body;
fine and thick hair;
the ability to exist for a long period of time without personal housing;
rapid adaptation to the proximity of a person and, ultimately, loss of fear of him.

Before choosing ways to fight a ruthless hunter, you should study its characteristics and habits. This cute little animal proudly bears the title of the smallest mammalian predator:

male body length: 16 - 26 cm;
female body length: 11 - 21 cm;
male weight: up to 250 g;
female weight: up to 100 g;
male tail length: up to 8 cm;
female tail length: up to 6 cm.

Despite the gracefulness inherent in their build, their neck is quite massive. The muzzle is small, narrowed, and the ears, on the contrary, are so round that they do not point upward. Some zoologists note a slight identity with a snake: rapid movements, great mobility and the ability to overcome most geographical obstacles. With the onset of cold weather, the animal's fur thickens and changes its color from brown to white, which allows the predator to remain invisible in the snow. In the warm season, the brown color returns and the fur thins out. Sometimes weasels are mistakenly mistaken for ermine: the differences between these species are poorly identified, but they still exist.

Differences between weasel and ermine

Apart from the black tassel on the ermine's tail, each species has its own characteristic features.

Characteristic	Weasel	Ermine
Fur	Virtually of no interest to hunters	Highly prized in the fur industry
Dimensions	Slightly smaller than ermine	Larger individuals
Tail	Thin, without a black tassel at the end	Thicker and longer
Diet features	IN winter time experiencing a shortage of food resources	Not picky about food, can even eat insects

The weasel, unlike the ermine, has a rather uneven distribution, which narrows its search area for prey. However, unlike the stoat, its small body size makes it more mobile and gives it superiority in tracking and catching forest trophies. On the other hand, fine texture determines a more intense energy exchange.

During a disadvantageous period in terms of food availability, the stoat demonstrates high adaptive abilities and is able to live comfortably with a small concentration of animals that it can catch. In taste preferences he is less whimsical compared to weasels. Bird, fish, insects - he can eat anything he can get his hands on, so you can’t call him a gourmet.

What is the danger of affection

In order to find the answer to the question of how to neutralize a weasel or a marten, for example, it is necessary to understand the degree of threat they pose.

This animal, like the ferret, belongs to the category of cruel and ferocious predators who love to feast on domestic animals. Why waste time and effort searching for food in the forest when you can sneak in and treat yourself to plenty of “free” food.

It is impossible to catch these cunning thieves on your own, without using improvised means. They are too fast, agile and maneuverable. Don't be fooled by their cute triangular faces: in a fit of hunger, they are capable of tearing their prey into small pieces. How can weasel be dangerous? : To satisfy her need for food, she is not limited to one bird. Her appetite is so great that after she finishes her meal, up to several dozen headless birds may remain in the house. However, she does not often commit such bloody massacres, preferring to make do with mice and rats, which are much easier to get. It is decided to take such dubious actions only if there is no more suitable food in the area.

If the animal is completely distraught from lack of food, it may even enter the house and attack a small cat or dog. The weasel's teeth are very sharp, which allows it to easily kill individuals larger than itself.

Signs of an uninvited guest

A weasel seen near a poultry house is a harbinger of the imminent death of pets. As she opens the hunting season, she displays skillful tracking tactics and excellent knowledge of camouflage. Considering the fact that, like a ferret, it is impossible to take it by surprise, you should prepare for defense.

When the first snow falls, it is quite easy to detect signs of uninvited guests. Animals leave specific two-point tracks: they move by jumping, after which characteristic marks appear on the snow surface. By the distance between the paw prints, you can calculate which particular species of mustelid was visiting:

weasel - 20-30 cm;
marten - 30-40 cm;
ferret - 50-60 cm.

As practice shows, it is the ferret that causes the greatest damage to farmers, since compared to other family members, it is the most bloodthirsty and ruthless.

Methods for entering a chicken coop

It is not difficult to guess which path the little bandits choose for their bloody intervention. They use any available gap to enter the house. Cracks in the foundation, holes invisible to the eye - all this becomes a potential entrance to the chicken abode.

Thanks to their physiology and small size, even small holes become a door to gastronomic paradise for them. If the walls of the room do not contain holes, but have rotted under the influence of time and humidity, animals can easily gnaw through damp boards.

Since petty robbers have learned to use mouse holes as tunnels leading to the chicken coop, the solution to the problem of how to get rid of weasels in the yard , becomes as paramount as ensuring the safety of the poultry house itself. Even if there are no cracks or holes in the surrounding area, the weasel can penetrate through the ventilation system or, in extreme cases, make a tunnel on its own: the animal’s sharp fangs and claws allow this manipulation to be carried out in the shortest possible time.

For safety reasons, every square meter of the poultry house should be inspected and, if necessary, all holes should be patched and the ventilation system should be covered with mesh. When designing a house for birds, you should take into account the fact that the foundation must be made thick in order to prevent animals from entering through holes.

How to catch a weasel: ways to catch small predators from a chicken coop

It is not so difficult to catch poultry house robbers: knowing their habits and preferences, you can weaken their onslaught. For centuries, farmers have been using traps and other traps to catch small predators.

Homemade devices

How to get rid of weasels - quite simple! To do this, you will only need a few items that are always at hand.

Setting up a homemade weasel trap

Step	Description
1	It is necessary to cut off the bottom and top part bottle
2	At one of its ends you should install bait in the form of one of the mustelids’ favorite foods: a piece fresh meat lamb or pork will be an excellent bait, since they will not be able to help but react to the strong smell of blood coming from it.
3	A chair should be placed in the place where animal tracks were found.
4	Place the bottle on the edge of the chair.
5	You need to place a bucket under the chair, into which the animal tempted by the bait should fall. In this case, the lid should be secured so that it slams shut at the slightest vibration.

It is important not to miss the moment when the animal falls into the trap in order to have time to fix the bucket lid in a timely manner. Otherwise, the animal can get out of it and all efforts are aimed at solving the problem: how can you catch and get rid of a weasel in a chicken coop , will be in vain.

It does not matter how exactly the predator was captured, after capture it should be released away from its area.

Large mousetraps

The list of items that help in solving the question continues: what to do to prevent a weasel from getting into your chicken coop, a large mousetrap.

It is difficult to find an animal that would not find itself in a trap containing a delicious piece of meat. The Zürner rat trap is very popular among farmers.

Prices for repellers and traps for birds and rodents

Repellers and traps for birds and rodents

You can buy it in a store: the average market price is 1,200 rubles, or you can make it yourself. The manufacturing process is quite simple and does not require large financial costs. It is a small but capacious box made of boards. The peculiarity of this trap is the bridges connecting 2 windows located parallel to each other. They form a solid corridor hanging in the air. Metal hooks with bait are installed above the cover of the device, located above the junction of the two bridges. The animal climbs onto the bridge in order to swallow the bait and falls inside the box.

Repellers

As a preventative measure, you can try to scare away the unwanted predator. An electronic repeller works well for this purpose, which should be placed in the poultry house or in the area adjacent to it.

Prices for various types of electronic rodent repellers

Electronic repeller

The device emits low-purity signals that provoke panic attacks in animals and a desire to get out of the area as quickly as possible.

As an alternative, you can install a light with a built-in motion sensor, which will respond to the approach of intruders with noise and sound warnings.

Traditional methods

Measures to protect yourself from a little robber can be quite simple. For example, effective means considered tar. Rural farmers believe that walls coated with this resinous product will emit a weasel-repellent odor. However, this method is rather dubious: the weasel can get into the chicken coop through the roof or dig a hole, thus not coming into contact with the walls.

Types of traps for fishing

To understand how to get rid of weasels, you should familiarize yourself with a centuries-old method: setting a trap.

Traps of this kind are a very effective means of pest control. They are in an affordable price category: depending on the modification, the cost ranges from 400 to 1000 rubles. Apply the following types trace traps, which are the most common group:

plate;
frame.

Basically, they are fixed on the path trodden by the predator. There are 3 types of plate type:

with internal spring;
with cross;
without cross.

The most universal among them is a trap with a cross.

Frame traps are also found in several varieties: The base of such traps can be:

oval;
round;
rectangular.

They are used in conditions where catching an animal is quite problematic.

At the moment when the animal falls into the trap, the springs firmly fix its neck and paws, preventing it from moving. To catch weasels, frame options are mainly used, since compared to plate options designed for larger animals, they are smaller and more efficient.

Strengthening the chicken coop from predators

Prices for chicken coops for birds

Chicken coops

If you don’t have the time or desire to purchase products that will tell you how to get rid of weasels in the chicken coop , you should turn the poultry house into an impregnable fortress and cover up any cracks and holes. It is also necessary to acquire good security: a competent, trained dog will be an excellent guard, protecting against any attacks from predators. It is recommended to surround the poultry house and the walking area with flat slabs to prevent undermining. Make sure that the surrounding area is free of empty boxes and other objects that could provide cover for predators.

A dog is a good bird protector

If you take timely measures to protect and protect your pets, you can avoid significant losses of livestock and not face the need for contact with predatory representatives of the mustelid family.