Identifying stoats, weasels and their relatives.

The weasel, stoat, pine martin, polecat, mink and otter are all members of the weasel family(mustelidae), and resemble each other in build, colouring  or behaviour. All are very active hunters with long, sinuous bodies and comparatively short legs. They often sit upright on their haunches to look round, and when moving fast they gradually bound along with the back arched. Males are usually upto fifty per cent bigger than females. Confusion is most likely between the squirrel-sized stoat, especially a young one, and the smaller weasel. It is possible to confuse the pine martin, polecat and mink(all three roughly cat size), and perhaps also a swimming mink and swimming otter- the otter is much larger but its size is not obvious in the water. But each has certain distinguishing characteristics, and usually can also be identified from its habitat, although the stoat and weasel are found in most types of the country. The mink and otter are likely to be seen in or near water, the polecat on farmland or lower hill slopes and the pine martin only in remote northern forests or moors in Scotland (although they are rumoured to be back in Wales). The pine martin, polecat and otter are mainly active at night, the stoat, weasel and mink can be seen during the day. Polecat identification can be confusing because of the existence of polecat- ferrets(descendants of feral ferrets), whose colouring can vary from pale to dark.

Santuary and sustenance in the wetlands.

Marshland and waterside areas are attractive to many mammals because they offer good shelter and varied food. Waterside plants are often luxuriant and include dense masses of tall rushes, reeds and sedges where animals can hide. Clumps of alder growing growing at the water`s edge provide roosting spots for bats in crannies behind fissured bark, alder leaves are also favourable with beavers as they don`t contain many tannins. On wetlands, animals are safe from disturbance because few people, and fewer vehicles, venture for over squelchy ground. Some mammals- bats and water deer for example- live near the water and take advantage of what it offers without getting too wet. But beavers, coypus(these are smaller than a beaver, their is debate whether there are any still living in Britain), water voles, water shrews and otters spend a lot of time in the water. Water voles and coypus feed on waterside plants. So in a few places , do chinese water deer.Leaf eating larvae, including many moth caterpillars, also live on plants and both the larvae and the adults are good food for bats. The water itself also provides a food supply for bats, because the larvae of gnats, mosquitoes, mayflies and many other insects live in the water, emerging in their thousands as they become adults. Damp waterside soils are full of earthworms, which shrews and moles feed on. Fish, frogs and other creatures in the water provide food for the carnivorous otter and mink.

Are cats a problem to wildlife?

With about nine million cats in the U.K and with some garden birds in decline, should we worry about the impact cats have on our birds. Now millions of years of evolution have led cats to be fairly tuned ambush predators, excellent at catching tiny animals. Years of domestication have done nothing to undo it. But how much effect these hunting skills have might not be as clear as we think. A recent mammal society survey estimated that cats bring in around 55 million dead birds every year. But how significant is that? It sounds like a huge amount, which certainly upsets a lot of people. But to find out if this is an issue this is what the r.s.p.b said. Research into the reason why some urban birds are declining has so far not revealed a link between cat predation and what the populations are doing. British birds have evolved over thousands of years to deal with a wide range of predators ,mammalian predators which include, stoats weasels, foxes, badgers and otters. Birds will also lay lots of eggs to combat these predators, but sadly most will not survive. Evidence is also there to say that cats will take weaker or sick birds that are unlikely to survive their first year. So they don`t think cats have a major impact on bird population. Some scientists though doubt the accuracy of the research being used. The stats say that cats bring in 30% of what they kill, so with 55 million birds being brought home there is roughly 128 million dead birds that we don`t see. Could we be underestimating the number of birds that cats kill. We have rely upon figures derived from other studies, unfortunately those other studies come from non urban habitats and even from other countries, so the reason for using 30% is its the only accurate figure we have to go on. What we need is a new technique that enables us to see what the cats are doing in our gardens. Cat com is being fitted to some cats so we can actually see what our cats get up to. This should give us some more accurate data to go on, showing us the impact cats have in urban areas.

the mustelidae family

part six the otter

Everyone`s favourite animal must be the otter,they just look so cute and cuddly and are magnificent to watch.Land otters are nocturnal whereas sea otters are not and actually come out in the daytime,Although their have been more sightings recently of land otters coming out during the day.Otters are making a great come back and are now said to be in every county in England,Of course this is magnificent as somebody said in the Birmingham area in the mid eighties that because midland waters were so polluted, you would never see otters in our local rivers again.If you are trying to catch a glimpse of otters you must remember a few key points, Firstly always make sure the wind is blowing towards you as your scent will blow towards the otters if blowing against you and disturb them, Secondly always where clothing that will blend in well with the surroundings where you are watching the otters and thirdly always keep your profile low when watching from a short distance away from the otters.Extra green grass growing in a circle may give a clue that its an otters spraint and the otters are nearer by.Otters live in a holt,Which will normally be in good cover by a river or a stream or at the coast,The holt may be close to some roots from a old tree on the river bank.The otters will have a slide on the bank as a way to get into the river.Fish is a otters main food,But they will also eat eels and frogs,small mammals and some waterside birds,and as they are really strong swimmers they may catch quite a few fish, but trout and Salmon normally move to fast for them.They have large lungs to aid their underwater activities,When they dive they can slow down their oxygen consumption by slowing down their heartbeats.Otters can live for up to twenty years in the wild.The dog (MALE) and bitch (female) otter are streamlined for speed in the water,having small ears and a long body,with a powerful,tapering tail and short,strong legs with webbed feet.The dog is about ninety centimeter's long with a forty centimeter tail, The bitch is slightly smaller.Otters can breed all year round with the bitch being on heat for about two weeks every thirty to forty days. The cubs are born blind after about a sixty two day gestation period,They are born in the holt and will normally number between three and five..They can open their eyes after about four weeks.The holt will normally be lined with moss and grass.The otter cubs will stay with their mother for up to fifteen months,The dog otter has no active role in bringing the cubs up.Otters communicate through whistling to each other,If you watch otters you may hear them whistling to each other.The bitch will teach the cubs to swim after they leave the holt,This is when the cubs fur coat has changed from the grey fluffy coat they are born with,To the waterproof coats.Their coat is something they constantly groom.When the cubs finally leave their mothers territory they then set up their own territories.