Weasel and ferret how they differ. Are weasels and stoats different animals? Origin of Weasels Vs. ferrets

At the word "predator" most people associate with large mammals- wolves, tigers, bears, panthers.

However, small predators are no less dangerous, especially in autumn and with the onset of frost, when they exterminate chickens. Today we will talk about how to get rid of weasels or ferrets.

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Behavioral Features

Ferrets and weasels are mammals of the mustelid genus. Their closest "relatives" include the stoat, skunk, badger, otter, wolverine, and European mink. Moreover, this list is far from complete.

If we talk about ferrets, then two types of ferrets are common in Eurasia: the dark or common ferret (known to farmers as the forest ferret) and the light ferret, better known as the steppe.

Weasel is the most common species of the weasel family. Without exaggeration, we can say that our entire planet is inhabited with caress, with the exception of the polar deserts and mountain regions with abundant snow. In addition, it is also the smallest predator, which causes the greatest damage in poultry and livestock.

Weasels and ferrets, as representatives of the same genus, are similar to each other, but they have anatomical differences, and also differ in their behavior in natural environment. To protect yourself from these small predators, it is necessary to study the features of their behavior.

About ferrets

The ferret is a medium-sized mammal, the length of the body in males is up to 50 cm, in females it is up to 40 cm, the size of the tail is up to 18 cm. In adulthood, they lead a solitary existence.

The main objects of hunting are field mice and other small rodents.

The body of the black ferret is elongated and squat, with short legs equipped with long and very sharp claws. Color black-brown on the back. On the belly, paws and throat is a rich black color, but sometimes it can be light or red. Head and muzzle with a contrasting color, reminiscent of a mask pattern. Under the tail are glands, from which a secret with a specific smell is secreted.

The forest polecat is valued for its fur, but there is no special fishery for this species of mustelid genus. The predator benefits by exterminating the vole and other mouse-like rodents, and some gardeners specifically have a ferret to clean up their plots. But poultry farmers do not like the animal because of the damage done to chicken coops.

In addition to mouse-like rodents, they use:

• water snakes,
• vipers,
• Small wild birds
• Locusts.

The ferret often enters hare holes and eats the young. Dangerous for farms where rabbits are bred.

The steppe ferret differs from the common ferret by a more pronounced contrast between the color of the back and belly, and a lighter shade of fur in general. Otherwise, the structure of these two species is similar.

Ferrets are sedentary, attached to their habitat, although they do not build their own holes. They settle in forests and often occupy abandoned burrows of foxes and badgers. Also, firewood, rotten stumps, haystacks or straw can become dwellings. In the villages they settle in cellars, underground sheds, under the roofs of baths.

About caresses

Weasel - unique animal, because less than it in the nature of a predator does not exist. The weight of the male can be 60 g and never exceeds 0.25 kg.

The body length of adult males varies between 15 cm - 25 cm, and for females 10 cm - 25 cm. In appearance, the weasel is more like an ermine than a ferret. The forest ferret is more like a mink.

Inexperienced farmers, having caught a black ferret, often think that they managed to catch a mink in the chicken coop.

The weasel has the outer part of the paws and tail, as well as the top of the head and the back of a solid brown color with a brownish tint. The coat of the belly, throat, chest, inside of the paws is ideal white color. A distinctive sign of affection is two brown spots behind the corners of the mouth. In winter, he changes brown fur for a white winter coat. Small dimensions allow the weasel to settle in hollows, between stones, in empty burrows. Often these animals live in colonies, which is how they differ from ferrets.

Weasel feeds on mouse-like rodents, moles, small amphibians, birds and their oviposition. Predators of the weasel family are sensitive to smells of animal origin.

However, the weasel loves the smell of horses and often attacks stables. This small animal tickles the horse throughout the night, bringing the poor animal to complete exhaustion. To save the stable from this misfortune, experienced farmers keep a goat next to the horses, the smell of which the weasel does not digest.

Ferrets and weasels are very nimble animals, thanks to their tenacious paws and sharp claws, they quickly climb the rungs and can climb through the cracks in walls and floors.

They often climb into the chicken coop through holes in the roof. Animals are aggressive by nature, characterized by a kind of fearlessness and can attack prey that exceeds their size.

They hunt only at night, attack animals during the day only in case of severe hunger. Usually they guard prey near their habitats or hunt on the run.

For one foray into the poultry house, the animal exterminates as many chickens as it has enough strength for. The prey is mainly chickens and small hens, however, with a lack of food, predators can attack geese. When attacked, a weasel or a ferret strangles chickens and immediately eats. At a time, they eat one, maximum - two birds, the rest are often decapitated or not touched. Attacks on a large number of birds are explained by the desire to make supplies.

The appearance of a predator is determined by the changed behavior of chickens. The fact is that weasels or ferrets do not immediately attack chickens, but first scout the situation. Chickens immediately notice the threat and become restless in the morning, do not leave their perches and their nests. Predators move by jumping, so they leave two-point trails.

If you notice such suspicious two-points, find the second pair of tracks and determine the distance. The length of the weasel jump is 20.0 cm - 30.0 cm, and for the ferret - 50.0 cm - 60.0 cm.

A narrow, squat body allows you to enter a room with chickens through the smallest holes - cracks in the walls, mouse holes, ventilation. Sharp claws and teeth allow these small predators to successfully dig and gnaw through wood.

Note! If you do not immediately destroy the ferret or weasel, in a few days the chicken coop will die completely, and each new family of chickens will also be destroyed.

Methods for dealing with ferrets and weasels

The following methods will help save chickens:

1. Traps;
2. Electronic scarers;
3. Folk methods;
4. Trap from improvised means.

Trap

For cautious animals such as ferrets and weasels, one trap will not be enough. You will need several traps, because these animals know how to deftly bypass them. Feathers or a chicken carcass will help to weaken the vigilance of predators.

A bait is placed in one of the traps, and several more traps are placed along the way to it. Clever animals will bypass all the traps, grab prey in a trap with bait and begin to back away. At this point, the trap will work. The method, of course, is not the most humane, but the most effective of all existing ones.

You need to install traps in compliance with certain rules:

• Use gloves and do not touch the trap with bare hands, since the animals will immediately smell the smell of a person and will not approach the traps;
• Place traps in different places each time, as predators are constantly changing their hunting routes.

Repellers

Unlike traps, this method is more humane. With the help of a repeller, it will not work to kill a ferret, but you can stop the interest of predators in the poultry house. The operation of electronic devices is based on low-frequency pulses. In animals, they excite a sense of anxiety and panic. Naturally, the predator will leave the dangerous place.

A good alternative to an electronic repeller is a flashlight equipped with a motion sensor. Install a light fixture with a sensor in the coop. When a weasel or a ferret appears, he will give sound and light signals that will frighten away the animals.

Folk remedies

Farming practice is rich in effective methods of scaring away small predators from poultry houses. One of these methods is the use of tar, they are treated with walls in poultry houses. To enhance the effect of tar in the chicken coop, undressed sheep or goat skins are hung out. A persistent animal smell is able to scare off predators of the marten genus.

For the same purpose, they are equipping near the chicken coop doghouse. Small animals are not afraid of dogs, but the smell of a dog and loud barking can discourage the desire to visit the chicken coop.

If you are just planning a poultry house, build it near the habitat of other pets. Unpleasant smells of manure and animal skins will scare away the animals. Geese and turkeys make excellent watchdogs. These birds are light sleepers and will immediately raise the alarm when uninvited guests appear.

Please note that mustelid predators cannot tolerate strong smells and loud sounds, and also react to flashes of light at night. Use these features to protect your poultry.

improvised trap

You can try to catch small pests with your bare hands, although this is quite difficult to do. Stock up on patience, a thick blanket and thick gloves, and then settle in for the night in a chicken coop.

When a predator appears, throw a blanket over it to crush it, and then transplant it into.

You will need protection for your hands, because the animal is dodgy, has sharp claws and no less sharp teeth. If a ferret or weasel, nevertheless, could bite on the hand, pinch the animal's nasal passages, and when it opens its jaw a little, insert a piece of wood and free your hand. Be prepared that during the operation the animal will emit unpleasant odors from the glands located in the anal area.

You can build a trap yourself from an ordinary bucket or a strong box. A bucket or box is placed on its edge and propped up with a stick to stop. Under the bucket or box put the bait - feathers or chicken carcass. Interest in the bait will make the intruder come up, the emphasis will fall, and the animal will be locked up.

How to avoid the appearance of a ferret or weasel?

Repairing the chicken coop or building a new building will help protect the chickens and prevent the appearance of predators. The construction of a new chicken coop will be required if ferrets or weasels have become regular guests of your farm. During the repair process, you need to carry out the following work:

Installing a chicken coop on stilts will also prevent ferrets or weasels from coming in. A good way from small predators will be a concrete floor and a high-quality roof.

When they see a photo of an animal weasel, people immediately think that this is a very gentle creature, like its name. However, appearances can be deceiving, and in fact it is an aggressive and very bloodthirsty representative of the wild. The animal has been seen more than once when committing robberies of household plots. On the other hand, affection was revered by many peoples of the world, even the Slavs believed that this creature is the keeper of the hearth, and the French generally believed that it brings good luck. The Serbs never shot at the weasel, as it was believed that then the bullet would hit the hunter, and not the animal.

Brief description and life expectancy

This is very little creature from the mustelid family. The animal has an oblong and subtle body. Very sharp claws on short legs. Weight does not exceed 200 grams, and a forked nose on the muzzle. The neck is strong and long, the eyes are large and always dark, the ears are rounded.

It is quite difficult to make a separate description of the female and male weasel animal, since outwardly they are practically indistinguishable, only the females are slightly smaller, by about 30%.

Each individual has glands near the tail that secrete mucus that has an unpleasant odor. Thus, the animals mark their territory and scare away intruders.

There is still a lot of controversy regarding the maximum age of affection, some scientists claim that they live 20 years, others that 30, and some sources even indicate 60 years. At the same time, animals of this size in nature rarely live more than 8 years.

When the cold comes

The animals have a warm, fluffy, long-haired brown coat. The belly and neck are painted white. However, as soon as the cold sets in, the animal changes its coat color from brown to white, becoming covered with even longer hair. This is not only a way to protect yourself from the cold, but also a good disguise, because a white creature on white snow is much harder to spot.

Habits and lifestyle

Looking through the photo and description of the weasel animal, it is impossible not to admire its habits. This is a fearless creature that is not afraid of even a person. Many hunters and fishermen know that it is possible to be left without part of the prey if there is a weasel nearby.

This animal is very active. It can hunt at any time of the day, but still prefers darkness. The uniquely folded body allows you to penetrate almost any hole and crevice. Sharp claws help to quickly cope with prey. For a day, weasel can run up to 1 kilometer.

If the animal is well-fed, then it still hunts, and lays off prey for hungry times. The carcasses are put in secluded places.

In the winter season, it mainly moves in voids under a layer of snow and for a long time may not appear on the surface.

Habitat

A natural question arises: "Where does the animal weasel live?" You can meet the animal throughout Europe, in North America and Asia. Prefers fields, lowlands in the mountains, can settle near human settlements, in sheds and barns. It can live in hollows, burrows and under rocks.

It does not really tolerate neighborhood with its own kind, especially if there is little food. But sometimes the animals form entire colonies.

Diet

What does a weasel animal eat? The animal feeds on protein food and exterminates small rodents. By killing mice near settlements, the animal is of great benefit to humans. In addition to mice, eats:

• chickens;
• lizards;
• moles;
• rabbits;
• pigeons
• snakes and vipers;
• frogs;
• large insects.

reproduction

The offspring directly depends on the number of mice-voles in the territory of residence. If there is enough food, then the female can bring children 3 times a year, sometimes 4. Moreover, the more satisfying life, the more children in the brood, sometimes their number reaches 10. If there is a “hungry” year, then everything changes with accuracy on the contrary, the number of offspring is reduced, as is the number of pregnancies.

Male weasel animals do not take any part in the upbringing of the younger generation. After mating with one female, the male goes further in search of a new mate.

Before giving birth, the female drives out a medium-sized animal from her mink, since she does not know how to dig herself, and equips the nest. Pregnancy lasts no more than 35 days. The weight of babies does not exceed 1.5 grams, they are born blind. After 3 or 4 months, the children become completely independent and leave their mother.

natural enemies

Having a small size, the pet weasel itself is a "tidbit" for more large predators. AT wild nature the animal is afraid birds of prey, kites and vultures. Martens, badgers, wolves and foxes hunt the animal, although the weasel is not a simple prey, it is able to fend for itself. It can even cut the throat of a larger predator.

The person is not natural enemy for an animal, there is little meat from such a creature, and the skin is not much appreciated, since it is small in size.

Animal at home

Since ancient times, weasel animals have been kept at home. The tradition originated in Ancient Rome, then the animal was tamed to catch mice. But after some time, rats appeared in the houses, with which the weasel could not cope, and cats took its place.

AT modern world there are people who prefer exotic animals instead of traditional cats and dogs. Weasel also fell into the category of such. But the animal can become domestic only under one condition - if it is raised from infancy. Such an animal quickly becomes attached to its owner, sleeps with him in the same bed and long separation even bored.

Raising an adult animal is almost impossible. The nature of the animal is aggressive, it bites often and strongly, it will constantly make attempts to escape.

It is impossible to treat an animal affection like a cat, the animal requires a special attitude towards itself. The baby needs to be cherished and loved. The animal needs a house, but it is impossible to restrict freedom, it must be allowed to move freely around the apartment or house.

In his house there should be snags and all kinds of hills, shelves so that the animal can climb. It is recommended that the bottom of the cage or other housing device be covered with straw.

With high-quality education, the animal will go to the toilet in a special tray.

The animal must always have pure water. With a diet it will be more difficult, it should be as close to natural as possible. It should be meat and fish, other seafood is allowed. Eggs are definitely on the menu. But the animal eats very little, about 30-40 grams per day.

Weasel is quite independent in the process of caring for herself. With a varied menu, the owner does not have to take care of the animal's coat, but regular visits to the veterinarian are still recommended.

An animal weasel can bathe on its own, it is only necessary to create suitable conditions for it. Even a bath with water is suitable for this.

In the process of molting, the creature should not be combed out. Remove excess hair with wet hands.

Taking caress home, one should never forget that this is a predator, capricious and aggressive, albeit quite small in size.

Genus: Mustela Linnaeus, 1758 = Weasels and ferrets

The sizes are small. The body length is from 11 cm in the weasel to 56 cm in the steppe ferret. The body is thin, elongated, in some species very strong. The limbs are short, digitigrade. The paws are rather wide. The tail is of various lengths; it reaches half the length of the body. It is covered with elongated hair. The head is small, somewhat flattened, narrow, blunt-faced. Small ears are widely spaced, their tops are rounded. spruce large. The hair of the yano cover is dense, low, in some species it fits snugly to the body, in others it is fluffy. Its coloration is one-color, black-yellow with a dark belly or two-color with a light belly. Sometimes on the head there is a pattern of dark or light color in the form of a mask. There may be black spots on the chest and on the underside of the thighs. Usually on cold period years, the hairline becomes thicker, taller and paler. In some species (weasel, ermine) in the north, there is a pronounced seasonal dimorphism: the fur turns white in the winter. There are 2 molts a year: in spring and autumn.

Nipples on the belly and in the groins 3-5 pairs. Specific anal glands are well developed, producing an odorous secret, which some species (for example, the forest ferret) can spray at a distance.

The skull in most species is small, sometimes small, rather narrow, flattened, with poorly developed ridges. The brain section is enlarged, elongated, the facial section is shortened. The upper profile of the skull is straight. The zygomatic arches are thin, slightly set apart. The supraorbital processes are small. The interorbital and postorbital constrictions are usually weak. Sometimes the skull is somewhat shortened, the brain region is relatively reduced, and the facial region is enlarged, the zygomatic arches are strongly developed and wider apart to the side, the postorbital narrowing is strongly pronounced. The bony auditory drums in all are strongly swollen and have an elongated bean shape.

The diploid number of chromosomes in the weasel is 38, the ermine and long-tailed weasel - 42 each, the solongoy - 44, the American mink - 30, the forest ferret - 40.

Distributed very widely: throughout Europe, in Asia; in Africa, the range covers Morocco, the Atlas Mountains in Algeria, Tunisia and ARE; throughout North America; in northern South America.

They inhabit a wide variety of biotopes and landscapes of all zones. from tundra to steppes, deserts and rainforest, rise high in the mountains up to the Alpine belt inclusive. Weasel is found in a wide variety of biotopes and landscapes: in the tundra, taiga, but most common in the forest-steppe and steppe; often settles in fields, stacks, outbuildings, on the outskirts or even in the cities themselves. Ermine is more numerous in the forest-steppe, forest zone and forest-tundra; everywhere prefers to stay near water bodies. Solongoy mainly lives in mountainous places, preferring open landscapes. Kolonok - a resident of the mountain and plain taiga; river valleys, stony placers, penetrates deep into the taiga following the spread of agricultural land; also lives in the forest-steppe - along birch and aspen pegs and in reed beds along the banks of rivers and lakes. The long-tailed weasel prefers the steppes; aspen woodlands and river floodplains. Minks are found along the banks of small rivers. The forest ferret is an inhabitant of sparse forests and forests with alternating fields and meadows, often keeps along the edges of the forest, is found in villages, on the outskirts of cities. The steppe polecat inhabits open landscapes: meadows, steppes, semi-deserts; the American polecat inhabits dry prairies.

All members of the genus are terrestrial predators, but most can climb trees. All of them can swim, and some are adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle. They are very fast in their movements, deftly moving in heaps of deadwood, among stones, in rodent burrows. Refuge are mainly rodent burrows. Sometimes they settle among stones, in heaps of deadwood. They are active mainly at dusk and at night, although in most species daily activity is not expressed clearly enough and they can be found during any time of the day.

By the nature of nutrition, all representatives of the genus are pronounced predators. Weasel feeds mainly on voles, mice, hamsters, gerbils, sometimes shrews, and fish; there are cases of attacks on large prey: capercaillie and hares. In the diet of the stoat, rodents predominate, and, unlike weasels, they can be quite large: water voles and common hamsters, pikas; birds are of secondary importance; an even smaller role is played by amphibians, reptiles and insects. Kolonok eats mainly small and medium-sized rodents, as well as birds and, in some areas, fish, reptiles and amphibians; from plant objects - cedar "nut". The long-tailed weasel mainly feeds on small mammals: voles, chipmunks, gophers, ground squirrels, pikas, prairie dogs; to a much lesser extent by birds and insects. Mink food consists of coastal, aquatic and forest animals: voles, amphibians, fish, crayfish, birds, and insects. The main objects of food for the forest polecat are mouse-like rodents, and among them are gray voles; in large quantities also amphibians, to a lesser extent - birds. The steppe ferret hunts for more big booty: ground squirrels, hamsters, pikas, but in summer time and for invertebrates. american ferret feeds almost exclusively on prairie dogs, as well as ground squirrels, rabbits, and voles.

All members of the genus are sedentary forms. The sizes of individual plots vary depending on the geographical location, season and foraging of the place and year.

The genus system has not been finally established.

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, weasels, ferrets or martens are predatory animals in miniature.

With the onset of cold weather, many farmers are faced with the problem of attacks by small robbers on chicken coops, cases of weasel attacks are especially frequent. How to get rid of affection and protect your pets is an urgent problem and, fortunately, easily resolved.

These petty farmland thieves are excellent hunters and love flesh: two distinctive molars in the jaw, designed to cut meat, speak for themselves. Raiding a nearby chicken coop is a trifling matter for them. Moreover, the methods they choose are not the most humane: a ferret, for example, climbs into a poultry house under cover of night 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 marten family, to which these half-meter creatures belong, become more frequent with the onset of cold weather, but even in the summer this problem is topical.

Before you protect your pets, you should make a detailed dossier on the representative of this huge family. Kuni - a family very rich in different kinds, in the center of which is the European pine marten. Mink, grison, ferret skunk, badger, wolverine, otter, weasel, ermine - not a complete list of 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 marten is characterized by:

• small growth;
• short paws with 5 fingers;
• elongated body;
• thin and thick hair;
• the ability to exist for a long period of time without personal housing;
• quickly getting used to the closeness of a person and, ultimately, the loss of fear of him.

Before choosing ways to deal with a ruthless hunter, you should study its features and habits. This cute 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 grace inherent in complexion, their neck is quite massive. The muzzle is small, narrowed, and the ears, on the contrary, are so round that they are not directed upwards. Some zoologists note a slight identity with the snake: rapid movements, great mobility and the ability to overcome most geographical obstacles. With the onset of cold weather, the animal's coat thickens and changes its color from brown to white, which allows the predator to remain invisible in the snow. AT warm time year, the brown color returns, and the fur thins. Weasel is sometimes mistaken for an ermine: the differences between these species are poorly identified, but still there.

Differences between weasels and stoats

In addition to the black brush on the tail of the stoat, each species has its own characteristics.

Characteristic	weasel	Ermine
Fur	Practically not of interest to hunters	Highly valued in the fur industry
Dimensions	Slightly smaller stoat	The larger individuals
Tail	Thin, no black tassel at the end	Thicker and longer
Features of the diet	AT 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 prey search area for it. However, unlike the stoat, its small body size makes it more mobile and superior in tracking and catching forest trophies. On the other hand, a fine texture determines a more saturated energy exchange.

In a disadvantageous period in terms of food availability, the stoat demonstrates high adaptive abilities and is able to comfortably exist with a small concentration of animals that it can catch. In taste preferences he is less whimsical compared to affection. Bird, fish, insects - he can eat everything that falls under his paw, so he cannot be called 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 energy looking for food in the forest when you can sneak around and treat yourself to plenty of “free” food.

It is impossible to catch these cunning thieves on your own, without the use of improvised means. They are too fast, agile and maneuverable. Do not be deceived by their cute triangular faces: in a fit of hunger, they are able to tear their prey into small pieces. What can be dangerous caress : 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 can remain in the house. However, she does not often commit such carnage, preferring to make do with mice and rats, which are much easier to get. He decides on 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. Weasel teeth are very sharp, which allows her to easily kill individuals larger than herself.

Signs of the appearance of an uninvited guest

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

With the first snow falling, it is quite easy to detect signs of the appearance of intruders. 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 what kind of mustelids visited:

• 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, because compared to other members of the family, it is the most bloodthirsty and ruthless.

Ways to get into the chicken coop

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

Due to its physiology and small size, even small openings become for them the door to gastronomic paradise. If the walls of the room do not contain holes, but are rotten under the influence of time and humidity, the animals can easily gnaw through the damp boards.

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

For safety reasons, each square meter the house and, if necessary, patch all openings and cover the ventilation system with a mesh. When designing a feathered house, one 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

Bird house robbers are not so difficult to catch: knowing the habits and addictions, you can weaken their onslaught. For centuries, farmers have used traps and other traps to trap small predators.

Homemade devices

How to get rid of affection - quite simply! To do this, you need only 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 of the bottle.
2	At one of its ends, you should install bait in the form of one of the mustelids' favorite products: a piece of fresh lamb or pork meat will be an excellent bait, since they will not be able to resist the strong smell of blood emanating from it.
3	In the place where traces of the animal were found, a chair should be placed.
4	Place the bottle on the edge of a chair.
5	It is necessary to put a bucket under the chair, into which the beast tempted by the bait should fall. At the same time, the lid from it should be fixed so that it slams shut at the slightest hesitation.

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

It doesn't matter how the predator was captured, after catching it, it should be released away from its site.

Large size mousetraps

Continues the list of items that help in solving the issue: what to do so that the weasel does not climb into your chicken coop, a large mousetrap.

It is difficult to find an animal that would not be trapped containing a delicious piece of meat. Zürner's rat trap is very popular with farmers.

Prices for repellers and traps for birds and rodents

Repellers and traps for birds and rodents

You can buy it in the store: the average market value is 1200 rubles, or make it yourself. The manufacturing process is quite simple and does not require large financial costs. It is a small but roomy box made of boards. The peculiarity of this trap is in the bridges connecting 2 windows located parallel to each other. They form a solid corridor hanging in the air. Above the cover of the device, metal hooks with bait are installed, located above the point of adhesion of two bridges. The animal climbs onto the bridge in order to swallow the bait and falls into the box.

Repellers

As a preventive measure, you can try to scare off an uninvited predator. Works well for this purpose. electronic repeller, 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 signals at low purity, provoking panic attacks in animals and a desire to get out of the territory as quickly as possible.

Alternatively, you can install a flashlight with a built-in motion sensor that will respond to the approach of intruders with noise and sound warnings.

Folk methods

Protection measures against the little robber can be quite simple. For example, effective tool considered to be tar. Rural farmers believe that walls plastered with this resinous product will give off a smell that repels caresses. However, this method is rather dubious: the weasel can get into the chicken coop through the roof or dig a hole, thus not touching the walls.

Types of traps for fishing

To understand how to get rid of weasels, you should familiarize yourself with a method that has been worked out for centuries: setting a trap.

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

• plate;
• framework.

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

• with internal spring;
• with a cross;
• without a cross.

The most versatile 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 it is quite problematic to catch an animal.

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

Strengthening the chicken coop from a predator

Prices for chicken coops for birds

chicken coops

If there is no time and desire to purchase funds that will tell you how to get rid of affection in the chicken coop , you should turn the 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 guardian that protects against any attacks of predators. It is recommended to surround the poultry house and the walking area with flat slabs in order to prevent undermining. Make sure that there are no empty boxes or other objects in the surrounding area that can serve as a hiding place for predators.

The dog is a good protector of birds

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

Video - Trap for ferrets, martens, weasels, rats

It is not clear where such a name came from, because it is difficult to call Laska a gentle animal - although it is a small, but dexterous and ferocious predator.

Its modest size (body length hardly exceeds 25cm) Weasel balances the unprecedented flexibility of the body, agility and speed.

What does Weasel look like?

Fur Weasel monochromatic reddish-brown, only the neck and belly are painted white. Grows with cold weather new coat with a long pile of white color - this is not only a salvation from winter frosts, but also an excellent camouflage that allows Laska to be invisible against the background of snowdrifts. From here came the Latin name of Laska - Mustela nivalis - which translates as " snowy".

Strong short legs with sharp claws allow Weasel to climb trees and tear mouse holes, but she has to move in jumps, arching her back high, and in order to look around, she has to stand on her hind legs and look out from behind tall grass.

Where does Laska live?

Weasel does not have a permanent shelter, uses secluded places for recreation: rock crevices, spaces between roots and thickets of shrubs, rarely climbs trees.

weasel widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found in forests, and in open areas among shrubs, and in overgrown clearings, in the tundra, steppes, on alpine meadows.

What does weasel eat

weasel absolutely not whimsical in the choice of habitats, the main condition for Laska's living is an abundance of food: mice-voles are the basis of a healthy Weasel nutrition, although she can diversify her diet with a gaping bird, bird eggs, large rodents, lizards and frogs, fish, and even snakes and rabbits, Weasel and insects do not disdain.

Weasel habits

In ancient times, it was believed that meeting with Laska brings misfortune and such a belief did not appear out of the blue. Weasel is a curious and arrogant animal, she is not at all afraid of people and can easily steal a piece of barbecue or a catch caught on a fishing trip - she will do it quickly, efficiently and imperceptibly. Her tricks are so quick and sudden that you don’t even have time to get angry.
There was also an opposing view that Kindness brings happiness and good luck. Weasel in a short period of time can destroy large population rodents, which cause considerable harm agriculture- thus it brings invaluable benefits to a person.

Laska's lifestyle

Weasel is active at any time of the day, but prefers to hunt at night.
With the onset of evening twilight Weasel goes hunting, its long slender body allows it to easily make its way into mouse holes, and its sharp claws easily cope with larger game.
With quick and dexterous movements, Laska examines her hunting grounds, running more than 1 km per day.

In the winter season, Weasel prefers to move in voids under a layer of snow, and if a lot has fallen from the snow, it may not appear on the surface for a long time.
Weasel is a very prudent and thrifty beast, in a well-fed time she makes stocks, folding mouse carcasses in a secluded place - such a stash will come in handy for her in times of famine.

The area of ​​Weasel's hunting area depends on the number of rodents that live on it: if there is enough food, Weasel can live in a small area for a long time, and when food becomes scarce, it moves to places richer in food.

Each Weasels mark their territory a special odorous substance that is secreted by glands located under the tail. Weasels do not tolerate neighbors and, when they meet each other, they arrange a brawl with a squeal and a showdown. Occasionally, the hunting grounds of the male and female may intersect along the perimeter.

Weasel breeding

The biorhythms of Weasels are closely related to the number of mice-voles - the main food of Weasels: if there is a lot of food, then Weasels will bring offspring without interruption, 3-4 broods per year, and the number of puppies in a brood increases to 10 pieces, instead of the usual 4-5 puppies .
But if there is not enough food, then the number of puppies in the litter decreases, and the number of pregnancies per year decreases.

Usually breeding season fall at the end of spring, the male can run away far beyond his territory in search of girlfriends. Having mated with one female, he goes in search of a new one, not participating in the care of the babies and completely avoiding his father's duties.

Weasel's pregnancy lasts a little over a month, 30-35 days.
Before the birth of puppies, weasel mother builds a cozy nest, which he arranges in a hollow, between the roots of trees, as well as in other people's holes, from which Weasel drives out the tenants. Laska herself does not know how to dig holes. Weasel lines the floor and walls of the nest with dry grass, leaves, wool and moss - in such a nest, children will be warm and safe, because they are born blind and helpless and weigh about 1.5 g.

For the first weeks of life, babies feed on mother's milk and remain in the nest. Only when fully grown they begin to leave the nest and follow their mother, learn to eat adult food and learn hunting skills.
3-4 months after birth, babies become completely independent from their mother and independent.