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00:00 Stoats are lightweight true carnivores belonging to the mustelid family, the same family as
00:11 weasels and ferrets.
00:13 Stoats may look cute and cuddly, but they are wild animals, unlike their domesticated
00:18 cousins the ferret.
00:20 They enjoy eating small mammals like mice and birds.
00:23 With most of their prey weighing close to their weight, these animals are ferocious
00:27 mammals with a big appetite.
00:29 Wild stoats hunt animals that are significantly larger than they are.
00:34 Just how strong is a stoat's bite force?
00:36 Your questions will be answered in this video as we give you ruthless moments of stoats
00:41 showing no mercy for their prey.
00:49 Stoats have accurate hearing, decent eyesight, and a strong sense of smell.
00:55 Although their eyesight is not superior to that of humans during the day, their night
00:59 vision is much better than ours.
01:01 Using its powerful senses, a stoat can detect prey from miles away, journey to the target's
01:07 location, and engage in a physically demanding battle.
01:11 This stoat perfectly demonstrates its species technique to kill larger prey.
01:16 The aggressor locks in the iconic bite to the base of the skull.
01:21 The rabbit hops around erratically, trying to shake off the annoying creature stuck to
01:26 its back.
01:27 The stoat will remain stuck on its target till the animal succumbs.
01:31 Stoat mothers typically wean their litter at around 5 weeks old, and the younglings
01:35 are fully independent at 12 weeks.
01:37 With such a short period of motherly care, stoats have no choice but to hone millennial
01:42 long traits that have kept their species alive and thriving to this day.
01:47 A testament to their fierceness is revealed in this clip where a stoat is on the hunt.
01:52 It chases a similarly sized rat, realizing the imminent danger.
01:57 The prey tries to escape, however.
01:59 The attacker's speed is superior.
02:01 The hungry predator is relentless in its attempts to subdue its prey.
02:05 It bites the rat, refusing to let go until its victim dies.
02:10 Stoats have one of the strangest hunting techniques found among predators.
02:14 They have the ability to dance or move with a certain rhythm that seems to hypnotize their
02:19 prey.
02:20 This behavior might be a result of centuries-long hunting techniques passed down, or potentially
02:25 due to a parasite infection.
02:27 Whichever one it is, there is no denying that this weird dance enthralls prey.
02:32 A stoat starts the infamous dance, and a rather curious rabbit is locked on the predator's
02:37 weird movements.
02:38 The rabbit feints an attack to size the stoat up, and the stoat attacks immediately.
02:43 The victim thrashes around violently.
02:46 However, the stoat does not release its hold on its target any time soon.
02:51 They are capable of traveling up to 2 kilometers when they are on the hunt for a tasty snack.
02:57 They are creatures of pure will.
02:59 Their ridiculous speed and endurance leave little to no chance of escape for any creature
03:03 they pursue.
03:05 Their slight build is not an excuse for them to switch to a vegetarian diet.
03:09 They are master predators that can be fierce in their attempts to hunt down prey.
03:14 An observer sees a stoat battling with a rat.
03:18 The tiny predator gives the hunt full concentration as it tries to lock in its final blow.
03:23 It had no idea that there was an uninvited guest spectating the hunt.
03:28 Once it notices the observer, the tiny creature runs off, leaving the terrified rat alone
03:33 and dazed.
03:35 Stoats can reach speeds of up to 20 miles an hour, an impressive speed feat for a creature
03:40 weighing less than 300 grams.
03:43 They are faster than humans, and almost none of their prey come close to this speed.
03:48 In addition to their top speed, stoats have incredible cardiovascular endurance.
03:53 A stoat battles a significantly larger rat.
03:56 The stoat bites deeply at the back of the prey's neck.
03:59 It's kill mood.
04:00 The rat attempts to fight back, but it cannot deal significant damage that will prompt its
04:05 attacker to let go.
04:07 The overweight rat is defenseless in the jaws of the slender predator, and the stoat will
04:12 definitely continue its attack until its victim stops fidgeting.
04:17 Stoats have an acute sense of smell that aids them in their search for prey.
04:21 This powerful trait allows stoats to identify their prey's presence and direction.
04:27 When they are hungry and on the hunt, they can chase after an unfortunate animal scent
04:31 for hours.
04:32 A stoat holds a rabbit captive.
04:35 It is unsightly to see such a small creature put an animal more than twice its size in
04:40 a perilous state.In a last ditch effort, the rabbit uses its powerful hind legs to toss
04:46 the diminutive attacker aside.
04:48 However, it was too hurt to run away, and the tenacious stoat is back, sinking its teeth
04:54 into the rabbit's skull.
04:56 Stoats are also highly territorial, and will bite if they sense any form of danger to themselves.
05:02 Soothing gestures like petting can easily provoke the pesky creatures, turning them
05:07 into tiny, violent beasts.
05:10 Besides, it is illegal to keep stoats as pets in many states in the United States.
05:15 Perhaps a more in-shape rat may put up more of a challenge than an overweight one.
05:20 Short answer - no.
05:22 Although the rat puts up more of a challenge and keeps the stoat from getting a hold of
05:26 it for a while, the end is the same.
05:29 The predator successfully incapacitates its target.
05:33 Stoats are curious animals, and oftentimes, they approach humans to play.
05:38 They maintain a playful nature as long as they do not sense any immediate danger to
05:43 themselves.
05:45 One might think that this characteristic will make them good pets, but that is not the case.
05:50 Stoats are extremely energetic creatures, and one would have difficulty keeping up with
05:55 them.
05:56 A stoat runs along a path with a mouse in its mouth.
05:59 It searches for a quiet place where it can eat its meal peacefully.
06:03 It makes its way toward an observer, dropping its meal in a bush before getting a better
06:07 look at the strange creature in its presence.
06:10 After determining that the observer means no harm, it grabs its meal and disappears
06:15 into the thicket.
06:17 Stoats are fascinating creatures that make one think about how such a small animal can
06:22 have such a big attitude.
06:23 Their primary food source is rabbits.
06:26 Even though they are much smaller than rabbits, they still hunt and subdue them easily.
06:30 Apart from hunting prey multiple times bigger than they are, stoats are willing to eat voles,
06:36 mice, rats, birds, insects, fish, and even reptiles.
06:42 Birds are not off the menu for stoats.
06:44 In this clip, we see a stoat attempting to snatch a small chaffinch.
06:49 The bird is casually enjoying its day in a pond.
06:52 That is until a hungry stoat pounces out of its hiding spot.
06:56 To the bird's luck, it is able to dodge the aggressor's attack, escaping to live
07:00 another day.
07:01 Why do stoats target the base of the skull whenever they attack their prey?
07:05 Well, the stoat's goal is to immobilize its prey by clamping down its jaws on the
07:09 victim's spine.
07:11 However, due to the large size of rabbits, stoat's canine teeth are too small to pierce
07:16 their spinal column.
07:18 Even though the bite force of their jaws is not significant in bigger prey, they still
07:22 manage to subdue them, with most deaths occurring due to shock.
07:26 A stoat uses its signature bite to the back of the neck.
07:29 The rabbit is several times the size of the stoat, but it is defenseless against the attack
07:35 of the tenacious predator.
07:37 Like a spectator at a stadium, a bird watches the fight without interrupting.
07:41 Moments later, the determined stoat lets go, startled by the presence of an observer.
07:47 Fun Fact!
07:48 Stoats living in northern countries will change the color of their fur during winter.
07:52 This fascinating adaptation allows them to blend with their environment all year round.
07:58 During summer, they maintain a brown coat with a creamy colored belly.
08:02 The only hair that does not change on a stoat during winter is the hair on the tip of its
08:06 tail, which stays black.
08:08 A stoat in its winter coat is sometimes referred to as an ermine.
08:13 Here we see an ermine display its climbing ability as it chases a squirrel around a tree
08:17 trunk.
08:18 The squirrel is better adapted to this type of travel, but the attacker is no slouch either.
08:25 With its powerful grip, the ermine holds onto the tree and chases the squirrel.
08:29 The stoat might look like it is playing with the squirrel, but it is not.
08:34 Rabbits are very fast land animals that are capable of running about 25 to 45 miles per
08:39 hour.
08:40 This is an impressive feat of speed.
08:43 Typically, it is unusual for a predator to continue chasing its target after a failed
08:48 ambush.
08:49 But stoats are not built that way.
08:51 They are very confident in their speed, even up against rabbits.
08:55 Stoats are capable of keeping up with the hopping animal.
08:58 A stoat chases a brown rabbit.
09:00 The rabbit is a faster creature, but the stoat is tenacious in its attempts to get itself
09:05 a juicy meal.
09:06 The chase goes on for over a minute, with the pesky stoat matching the rabbit's dodges
09:11 and turns.
09:12 One thing is sure, if this stoat gets the rabbit, it will not let go until its victim
09:16 is dead in its tracks.
09:19 Stoats are excellent climbers who often climb trees in search of nests during bird breeding
09:25 season.
09:26 They invade these nests as they are interested in dining on the eggs.
09:30 Stoats sometimes engage in overhunting.
09:33 This phenomenon shows that they are willing to kill many animals and store their remains
09:37 in their den to be consumed later.
09:39 Here we see a stoat stumble upon a bird's nest on the ground.
09:42 The little predator thanks its lucky stars and begins to transfer the location of the
09:47 eggs to its den.
09:48 It moves each egg individually and comes back to steal the remaining eggs.
09:54 The animal works dutifully and its hard work will later pay off when it feasts on the eggs
09:59 it successfully acquired.
10:01 Historically, during the reign of King Edward III in England, only the royal family was
10:06 allowed to wear ermine fur.
10:08 Soon after that, laws surrounding wearing stoat furs changed.
10:12 The status and prestige of noblemen were represented by the amount of black-tipped tail fur present
10:17 or absent in their robes.
10:20 Another rabbit has fallen prey to the tiny but mighty stoat.
10:24 The stoat drags the rabbit down a wall, where it has a little trouble using its weight to
10:28 pull the big prey down.
10:30 The feisty ermine probably has a den in the vicinity, where it can adequately devour the
10:34 big animal it just killed.
10:37 Ermines have a fraction of the strength of honey badgers and wolverines.
10:41 The aggression is just packed in a more petite build.
10:44 Whenever ermines lock on an opponent, they do everything they can to take down the unfortunate
10:49 animal.
10:50 Their pure aggression is a brilliant survival tactic that makes the potent predators capable
10:56 of taking down animals multiple times their size.
10:59 In this clip, the territorial nature of ermines is apparent as two duke it out in a battle
11:04 for territory.
11:05 The two predators flip and turn in an effort to get the upper hand in this fight.
11:10 Since stoats have incredible stamina, they might continue their fight for over an hour.
11:16 That is until one is able to chase the other off or deliver a fatal blow.
11:21 Stoats have a variety of food options.
11:23 Although they are true carnivores, ermines will not miss an opportunity to steal bird
11:28 eggs.
11:29 They have refined their technique of traveling with eggs, and they seem to do quite well
11:33 for little creatures without a poseable thumb.
11:36 Their movements may look sloppy, but as the popular saying goes, "If it's not broken,
11:41 don't fix it."
11:42 A stoat stumbles on an unguarded nest, it grabs one of the eggs, and begins moving it
11:47 toward its burrow.
11:49 It will stash the eggs, a technique similar to when humans go grocery shopping.
11:54 Perhaps in a few million years, stoats may start to see the benefits of utilizing ice
11:59 and snow to prolong the shelf life of their prey.
12:03 Rats are persistent creatures that adapt quickly.
12:06 They are present in almost every house worldwide, and intelligent predators, like stoats, have
12:12 seen the benefits of also adapting to city life.
12:16 They live in makeshift dens like abandoned pipes, holes in walls, mole hills, and rock
12:21 crevices.
12:23 Because they often have multiple dens in their territory, they can easily drag their captured
12:28 prey back to their closest den.
12:30 A stoat clamps down on a big rat's neck, applying acute pressure to the victim's spinal column,
12:36 immobilizing the creature immediately.
12:38 The stoat adjusts its bite to sink even further into the rat's flesh.
12:42 Later, the stoat drags it away from the scene of the attack.
12:46 Stoats are robust climbers, with non-retractable solid claws.
12:51 They are capable of competing with squirrels in terms of climbing dexterity.
12:55 Plus, they descend from trees head first, a skill you rarely see in non-arboreal mammals.
13:01 It is their powerful grip that makes them terrifying to large prey.
13:06 In this clip, an unlucky squirrel winds up being the lunch of a stoat.
13:10 The stoat is ravenous, and it is in no mood to drag the prey back to its den.
13:16 Perhaps its den is miles away from the spot.
13:19 Instead, the potent predator drags its kill up a cut tree trunk and begins its solitary
13:25 feast.
13:26 Stoats are solitary and highly territorial.
13:30 They are not interested in digging out a den.
13:32 This predator simply takes over pre-built dens of prey species.
13:37 Stoats can be found in moorland, lowland farms, shoreline, woods, and marshland.
13:43 An interesting fact about stoats is that mating sometimes occurs among the kids, and the females
13:49 get pregnant before leaving the nest.
13:52 Stoats are capable of hunting prey 20 times their size.
13:55 Talk about having a big appetite!
13:57 A ravenous stoat proceeds to drag a significantly larger prey all the way to its den.
14:04 The rabbit has no chance of survival once the aggressor purposefully bites its neck.
14:09 It is a tough haul that requires the predator to take small breaks.
14:13 Distant cousins of stoats include badgers and wolverines, animals known for their unyielding
14:18 resolve and tenacity during fights.
14:21 Since their cousin's reputation is filled with intense energy and passion for surviving
14:25 in an unforgiving world, it is no wonder that stoats share some of their trait.
14:30 At first glance, this may look like a harmless game of tag, but that is not the case.
14:36 That stoat is hunting, although the three rooks do not take the stoat seriously, flying
14:41 only a few feet in the air before coming back down to the same spot.
14:45 If the stoat is able to get a hold of one of the birds, you can bet your bottom dollar
14:49 that lunch is served for the tiny one.
14:52 A specific trait that is often overlooked is the stoat's durability.
14:56 These animals are willing to take a bump here and there while hunting a sizable meal.
15:01 With these traits in their arsenal, they are capable of hunting both during the day and
15:05 at night.
15:06 Plus, they do not know when to back down, even if their opponent is another larger predator.
15:12 A heron spots a stoat roaming around the grasses.
15:15 Its instinct kicks in and it begins to peck the small mammal.
15:19 The heron soon discovers that its target is not an ordinary prey.
15:24 The stoat jumps at its aggressor, even though its jaws cannot reach the predator towering
15:29 over it.
15:30 In the end, the stoat escapes, leaving the heron with an empty belly.
15:35 While you're here, go ahead and click one of these two videos on your screen.
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