Biology_of_Mustelids_Vol_1.pdf

123.
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Fig.3. Part of a hayshed in the
territory shown in Figs.1 & 2, the
site of a stoat's nest. All
photographs by E.S. Nyholm.
Fig.4 Usual hunting method of a
stoat in a familiar territory.
Key: ...... stoat prints .;.
vole prints ({O on hedge
~ ~ stoat prints (vole in
mouth) x site of kill
and so on.
When hunting larger prey animals, the stoat usually makes
use of surprise, either lying in wait for, or stalking up on them.
White
ptarmigans, partridges and other birds of that size are generally taken
unawares from their sleeping quarters;
similarly with grouse, blackcock and
hares(a).
The stoat finds hares relatively difficult to catch, as they
are active at the same time as itself, i.e. at night.
For instance,
stoats have not been recorded as killing a hare on the island of Krunni,
although both hares and stoats are plentiful there.
Stoats hunt in fixed areas, but they will leave these areas if
their food becomes scarce.
Supplies of their kind of food can vary
considerably in amount, and their territories therefore also vary in size.
In these investigations, the territories of 63 stoats were examined;
I
measured the prints and trails, and determined species and sex in each
instance.
The size of the female stoat's territory varies from 3.7-16.8 ha;
the average was 7.4 ha (n = 46).
The territory of a male stoat varies from
28.6 to 40.3 ha; the average was 34.2 ha (n = 17).
The difference in
size of territories used by each sex is thus quite considerable.
(a) Translated as "hare" in one version, "rabbit"
in the other - Ed.