THE STOAT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3922, 23 March 1929, Page 2

THE STOAT.

CUNNING HUNTER AND KILLER. INCIDENTS RELATED AT RABBIT BOARD MEETING. Some interesting facts concern-, ing stoats were brought to light at the monthly meeting of the Mana--vatu Rabbit Board on Thursday. One member said that stoat\ were great hunters. On a property in the Taikorea district he and his son one day saiw a rabbit making a very erratic course across ia paddock, continually looking around and having the appearance of being “all in.” Every noiw and again il would give, a squeal and put on an extra spurt. It avoided several burrows and finally halted out of view behind a clump of rushes. It was not long after, however, that a stoat was seen casually bounding along on the trail of the rabbit. It made straight for the clump of rushes and the watchers heard a terrified squeal from the rabbit and running over found the rabbit in a mutilated condition. The stoat beat a hasty retreat. That rabbit, said the member, had possibly been trailed for hours by the stoat until becoming terror stricken, had dropped down in the rushes and awaited the inevitable end in a semi-hypno-tic state. It had carefully avoided all burrows well knowing that by seeking refuge in a burrow it was only hastening its end. Once a stoat set its eyes on a rabbit it became semi-hypnotised possibly with terror and its end was not far off and the stoat would not give up its chase until it had secured its quarry.

Mr. F. C. Raikes said he had considerable experience with stoats on his property at Oroua Downs where he was engaged in poultry farming. He had often seen his pullets with necks stretched gazing at a stoat capering about, some distance aiway. All the time the animal was approaching nearer and nearer its intended prey cavorting and throwing somersaults in the air and holding the fowls spell-bound by its queer antics. But once it got within striking distance it Was a different tale. Before a fowl had time to move it would be seized and killed. Stoats, he said, had a peculiar habit of gambolling about in front of burrows in Which their intended victims were possibly spell-bound with terror awaiting their end. The Chairman (Trustee B. G. Gower) considered the stoat would account for the last rabbit. Trustee W. E. Barber: Once we are clear of rabbits we will possibly be glad to see the stoats killed off hut it is too soon to consider that just now. They are certainly death on rabbits although they sometimes make their presence felt in a poultry run. Trustee F. C. Raikes said that he found a very effective way to account for stoats in a poultry run was to place a trap between a couple of culverts or drain pipes. They were most inquisitive animals and could not refrain from investigating any opening they came across and would always run down a pipe or culvert lying on the ground and so could easily be caught by setting a trap in a pipe.