A few nights ago I lost a game cockerel to a weasel. Weasel species not known with two, possibly three species present in area. This outcome is predictcable based on location of pens used to house cockerel and other birds. Cockerel was in pen closest to a wet depression that bissects poultry yard (see image below). A group of 30 pens were located to right side of image and about 10 pens (one with victim) to left. The area is dominated by fescue like cool-season grasses and has an abundance of voles that are darker than the voles occuring in the adjacent browner upland areas to left and right of image. Note black willow tree to right of image.
Image of victim showing blood pool near top of photograph.
Close-up image showing where weasel fed.
Pens used to confine birds do not provide protection against such small predators. My dog is also having trouble catching weasel despite have no trouble catching mink in same area. Weasel seems to be moving largely underground through burrows of the voles. Voles are sop abundant that dogs go hunting for them when hungry and owls come after voles almost every night. To stop losses I simply moved pens further up hill away from wetland. I till want to catch weasel to see what species is involved.
Image of victim showing blood pool near top of photograph.
Close-up image showing where weasel fed.
Pens used to confine birds do not provide protection against such small predators. My dog is also having trouble catching weasel despite have no trouble catching mink in same area. Weasel seems to be moving largely underground through burrows of the voles. Voles are sop abundant that dogs go hunting for them when hungry and owls come after voles almost every night. To stop losses I simply moved pens further up hill away from wetland. I till want to catch weasel to see what species is involved.
