weasel-challenged yard

[Deleted User]

A weasel is living next to my rabbits’ outdoor play pen.  I am even worried he could enter into my basement where my rabbits live. I can’t see any traces of him trying to slip in, and my basement is pretty new, so I think,  the only way for him to get in would be right through the window. A bug screen would not hold a weasel back.

I put a grate in the window so I can still open it for my rabbits to get fresh air.

The weasel is a least weasel, so very tiny. He can fit through any opening bigger than one inch.

here he is peeking out of his den

here he is taking bait from a trap. The weasel does not die in this video. The trap is not set up correctly.

I’d like to catch him alive but the live traps cost around $ 100 and a trapper I know said they don’t always work. She said to snare the weasel.

The good news is that the weasel has probably been eating many mice, which is why I haven’t been getting many, and that his den is not tunneling into my basement like I had thought. It only goes down and to the side a short distance.

I really wish I could just relocate him. However, for my basement on the inside, I have traps loaded now just in case.

The weasels are a real draw-back to any garage or basement habitat for a rabbit.

This is what I think of this weasel right now.

[Andi]

What a pain he is, though super cute too LOL
Are there no rental traps? Sometimes an SPCA or something like that has them you can borrow.
Good luck with your weasle adventures.

[Karla]

If I remember correctly in the other thread, the marten is closely related to a weasel, right?

I know that martens will move to a different location if you disturb them with noises and interruptions, as they prefer to live in quiet places. So, the recommendation is to place sound speakers near their habitat and turn it on at short intervals now and then. If it is possible to get a big flash light as well to go with the noises, that is used also.

Also, they hate the smell of naftalin and paradichlorbenzen – and if you prefer to use something less chemical, yew oil can be used to scare off any animals (although I have never found it to work on dogs, as it is also supposed to), but I know this is also recommended with martens.

I hope you solve this soon. I hate to see the little guy get killed, but I understand your worry.

[Deleted User]

Yes, he is cute.

–There is no SPCA where I am. The county office rents out live traps but right now they are out.

My rabbits are upstairs in the main part of the house in a crate at night, to be safe. I’m sure they miss their 12′ pen because I don’t have that kind of space free in my house and it is uncomfortably hot for them too. We have no air conditioning. Deirdra especially is very unhappy in warm temperatures.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Karla on 05/17/2010 10:08 AM
  disturb them with noises and interruptions, as they prefer to live in quiet places.
Also, they hate the smell of naftalin and paradichlorbenzen

  I hate to see the little guy get killed

 

thanks, Karla, these are good ideas. I was thinking of what else I can do. I don’t want to kill him, either. Plus, even once I catch him, I still have to deal with his den to prevent another from moving in.

I was looking for him this morning and he wasn’t there, I wonder if I bothered him too much? I had splashed water into his den last night.

[Karla]

If you go all in with noises, light shows, water splashing and smell at the same time, I’m sure he will consider moving somewhere else.

Keep up the work with annoying him, and hopefully soon somebody else – far away from you and the bunnies – will enjoy having him live in their yard and eating the mice.

[Deleted User]

hehe… I was thinking of where I would relocate him if I did catch him.

[Karla]

Now is not the time for anyone in your town to mess with you Well, unless, they have no pets, but only mice in the yard because then you will be a popular lady once you start looking for relocation place

Any woods nearby? Not too nearby perhaps, if weasels have a big hunting territory…do you know if they do?

[Deleted User]

yes, there are woods nearby. The thing is in the winter I have seen weasels running out of the woods and crossing the main road here to head to where the houses are. I tried to find info on the weaselss home range but it isn’t conclusively known how far they travel. Some suggest their range to be very large. It seems weasels maintain several dens with food caches in them. i wonder if he is in another den right now because I haven’t seen him since Saturday.

edit: I looked up the wrong weasel: mine here is a least weasel and their home range comprises no more than 2 acres in size.

It says in wikipedia that least weasels are even more ferocious than other larger weasels…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_Weasel

[Andi]

“more ferocious ” oh wonderful!

I don’t know if this will help, but when we get moles that dig up our yard i place thise little wind mill type toy things around the mounds, the spinning/vibration is enough to annoy the little feller to move on. maybe the spinninf of one of those near the opening will deter him some?
I bought a bunch at the dollar store and keep them in my shed.

[Sarita]

Hopefully you can scare him away – I wouldn’t want him around my house or my rabbits no matter how cute he is.

Do they carry rabies?

[Deleted User]

yes, they may carry rabies.

I was trying to catch him by luring him into a small crate but I got scared he would bite me. I am not much of a trapper.

I am also concerned that if I scare him away, he would just retreat into one of his other dens and return to my basement wall at a later point.

[Andi]

Can you fill in his den?
lol…. get your dogs to pee at the entrance?
We used to sue Coyotee urine around the rabbit shelter to deture those kinda guys. Apparently u can buy it.

[Deleted User]

I was reading that weasels are belligerent by nature and I found this video of a weasel fight on youtube.

[Andi]

Sorta off topic, but weasle related in a strange way – I used to stay on a family friends ranch during the summer when i was a kid, and they had stuffed dead animals through-out their log home. I remeber this little white weasle one, all ferocious looking stuffed on a small log. We asked my friends Dad how he shot something so small like that (and WHY?), and he said he hit it with his truck, and then had it stuffed…
YUCK, i highly doubt that poor thing looked that ferocious trying to runaway from a truck.

[Lintini]

Ohh he’s cute but I guess they are pretty naughty little things. I love the bunny butt. Good luck getting rid of him :p

I know, how about I come over and play my horn really loudly into his den. That should get rid of him!

[Deleted User]

If you get rid of my weasel for me, I will bond all your bunnies for you, Lintini.

I saw him racing under my deck yesterday when we were cutting grass, it didn’t bother him at all.

I put some meat inside my smallest crate and left it in front of his den last night. I wanted to see if he fit through the 1″ by 1″ openings in the crate’s door.

 

this is the type of crate

He could not fit through the openings in the door, instead he chewed up the plastic, but didn’t get the meat inside.

 

 

So I took down my bunny yard.

Even though my dog saved my rabbits from the weasel, I wouldn’t want my rabbits in that pen again. I even think this weasel would try to take a rabbit from me in my presence.

I am thinking of buying a 1″ by 1/2″ rabbit wire and make something weasel-proof at some point.

 

[Andi]

What a bummer, all that work just to have to redo it b/c of one little naughty weasle.
I’m surprised he couldn’t fit through the bars, I fostered some young ferrets who i had to borrow a different carrier from as mine they were squishing through the bars LOL.

[Karla]

I hope you find a solution soon, Petzy! Really, try to get some of these smelly products and chase him off with loud music.

I still think it is strange that a weasel would move into a place with two dogs, but I guess the smell of the rabbits is just soooo good to resist.

[Deleted User]

Ugh! Thanks Andi — I would have to make that wire 1/2″ by 1/2″ then. I read that the least weasel will start killing at as young as 40 days of age when I suppose they are still smaller than mine here.

Karla, my dogs are after him bad but he couldn’t care less. He is fast as lightning. There is much food to eat for weasels here: squirrels, voles and mice to his heart’s content. This weasel is just one of many.

Maybe the solution is for my quartet to be indoors and on the patio only with my two dogs.

However, I did read that weasels don’t actually dig, they move into burrows that other animals they killed dug. This is good to know.

Andi, what else can you tell me about weasels?

 

[Beka27]

Are weasels related to the domestic ferret in some way? I know nothing about them. Would it cost way too much to have him caught and relocated then?

[Deleted User]

Yes, the weasels are to ferrets what cotties are to our bunnies. They are just the wild counterpart.
I don’t know, Beka, I will get this one but I don’t feel good now about my rabbits on the ground out there. That weasel thing is like a tasmanian devil, totally speedy gonzales.

[Elrohwen]

He’s cute, but I hope you get rid of him!

Did the county know when they would have traps for you to borrow? Maybe if you wait a few months they’ll have one available. I imagine it’s hard to trap something that can fit through a 1″x1″ hole though.

[Sarita]

But if there is one, isn’t there bound to be more? I know nothing about these critters other than they are vicious little animals that like raccoons.

Is there some kind of repellent you can purchase?

[usagi]

Petzy, can you try filling in the hole when he is gone? If he takes over the houses of his victims, maybe he won’t dig out. Perhaps he would move on?

What if its a she? Yikes.

I actually think it’s quite frightening looking – like a mammalian eel. Even more frightening with loved furry ones around.

[Deleted User]

Of course, there are more. Weasels are solitary but in favorable habitat up to 65 weasels can live in a range comprising 1 square mile. I consider my yard favorable. I want to close the den by my basement for sure so I need this one gone. Any repellent I read about was more to keep them from chewing certain things. I know the weasels do a good thing here by checking the population numbers of other vermin species. It is just such a bad situation for rabbits. Oh, this would also explain wht I never ever see wild rabbits here.
The best set-up for my quartet is one where my male dog is inside their enclosure with them.

[Deleted User]

Posted By usagi on 05/18/2010 01:44 PM
Petzy, can you try filling in the hole when he is gone? If he takes over the houses of his victims, maybe he won’t dig out. Perhaps he would move on?

What if its a she? Yikes.

I actually think it’s quite frightening looking – like a mammalian eel. Even more frightening with loved furry ones around.

 

Yes, I want to fill the den.

Now that you mentioned that it might be a female, I really cannot wait for the county’s live-traps.

 

 

[usagi]

Well, at least you have trusty watchmen.

[Deleted User]

I want to put this picture at the entrance of the weasel’s den.

[Deleted User]

Lintini, here is a new deal: send your bunnies up to me along with your rat terrier, yes?

[usagi]

What a beauty…

[usagi]

But in a totally formidable way   

[Deleted User]

Thank you usagi, he thinks very highly of himself, too.
 

I need cheering up…

 

 

[Monkeybun]

 

Dere, Monkey sez weezil cant fitz.

[Deleted User]

haha! That’s true! I need Monkey here to test for weasel safety!

Yay for mini buns!

[KatnipCrzy]

I am not sure if this would work or not- but I know to keep dogs from digging they recommend using mothballs in the filled in hole.  Or what about (yes this is gross) cramming some dog poo (predator poo) in the hole before you finsih filling it up?  I would that would make it unpleasant and unsafe feeling.

I get why you are so worried- they seem like awful little destruction machines.  And if you have one- there could be more around.  I have never seen a weasel so I do not think they are common in my area.  My first reaction was that they are cute- but then thinking they could hurt the bunnies- I kinsa got into they all must die mind frame.

[Deleted User]

Dog poo! I will try that today. That is very cunning, almost as cunning as a weasel, Katnip. Why didn’t I think of that?
Yes, I am leaning toward killing it now too.

[Monkeybun]

Well, I’d lend you Monkey, but I doubt she’d enjoy the dog poo.

[Deleted User]

This thread is nasty!

[Monkeybun]

lol except for the adorable bunny pics in it

[Andi]

I don’t have any other information, I was thinking “What Kills Weasles?” … coyotees maybe? So use Coyotee urine? But then why wouldn’t the dogs urine work?
From what I have read, it’s trap them in a solid looking cage, or shoot them with a gun There is not a lot of info or options.

I would fill in that den, and any other holes on your property, sicne they do not make their own dens, he’ll have to go searching for premade ones somewhere else… put the dog poop on teh covered holes for good measure.

In the movie “Doc Hollywood” the lady character found hunters traps or something, and started peeing all over there hunting area, to scare the deere away…. What woudl yuor neighbours think of u squatting all over your yard? go over ok? LOL … or maybe leave it to the dogs would b best :p

[Deleted User]

Posted By Andi on 05/18/2010 04:28 PM

In the movie “Doc Hollywood” the lady character found hunters traps or something, and started peeing all over there hunting area, to scare the deere away…. What woudl yuor neighbours think of u squatting all over your yard? go over ok? LOL … or maybe leave it to the dogs would b best :p

 

this thread is getting nastier…

the peeing all over the yard to mark up against them — definitely a man’s or a dog’s job!

[Deleted User]

The more I dealt with the weasel problem the more I realized the futility of it all.

What is the point in killing one weasel when there are coyotes, foxes, predator birds and surely more weasels visiting my yard regularly?

My rabbits need strict supervision outdoors anyways so I built another mini yard for them. This one is made of aluminum siding that I had left over. I don’t think a weasel can climb that. I can put the dogs inside the yard or one in and one out. I feel better about this setup.

i guess, many people may not decide to put their rabbits outdoors but I want to have the option.

[Lintini]

Looks like De is thinking how to escape already. I love how your dogs just chill with them.

We had a baby mouse in the house yesterday. Leia is still tracking him even though I caught him in a cup and turned him loose. I told my dad you wanted to borrow Leia – and after the poop pile she left downstairs we are considering it… lol :p

[KatnipCrzy]

Griffin would be climbing on one of the dogs so he could escape.  He is such a troublemaker.  Even a 4 foot pen will not keep him in- I had to add a Coroplast top clipped to the pen.  And if he gets past that I am going to add something to the top of the pen to keep him from being able to hang onto it and climb over.

[MimzMum]

Geeze, Kat, you have such a lovely lawn to turn your buns out into. Our yard is still not greening up worth a darn and I don’t have nice aluminum siding to make a rabbit run from. But if I did, that would be a nice way to go! (You’re quite the handyman!)
D’awes…bunnehs and goggies. That is precious! So lucky you are, really!

My son, home from college, was supposed to assist me in clearing out the house this summer. So far, all he’s done is make more mess for me and spend time on Facebook with his friends from school or play videogames. >_< I really need to put him to work on a project like this!
I could see how the proposal would go though…

ME: “You’re building me a bunny run today.”
SON: (glaring)…”Not today mom, my stomach hurts…”
ME: “Your choice is build the bunny run or lose the XBOX.”
SON: “How much longer till classes start again?” (furiously types up college website)
ME: (steals keyboard and looks up airlines) “How much would a plane ticket cost for me and three bunnies to Hawaii? The rest of your college fund? DONE!”

Oh…and the ‘territorial marking’ thing is not so far-fetched. I believe this was the only way we could keep certain animals out of our yard as well, wild or domestic, since you can put up miles of fencing and the moose just trod over it and make all your hard work disappear. Sometimes this is the only way to keep random or dangerous creatures from crossing those invisible boundaries. (That, or a good .22.) It really does work!

[Monkeybun]

*pokes MM* it’s petzy’s bunny pen silly

And I so had to giggle at your “conversation with Son” hehehe. Sounds liek something I’d do..if I were to ever have kids that is.

[Deleted User]

Mimz, call me Kat any day if it means you think of me as handy. (I am more stubborn than handy, I think.)

My rabbits were scared in the new pen at first, especially Deirdra, which is very unusual. She hid behind the little bush and Mops joined her for company.

but they liked it over all, and nobunny tried to dig out!

I like this video of Mops and Neigey for their posing in it. It’s like they are waving flags at the birds: “yoohooo! here we are! come and get us!” A top for the pen would be nice, I am thinking some sort of lattice.

 

 

 

yes, I have to carry them again.

 

[mrmac]

I love it! They look so relaxed in there! The dogs looks comfy too! That picture of Dierdra and Mops is so cute!

[Deleted User]

Here is the lattice I wanted as top. It will keep the birds away and give shade.

I love how it breaks the light

[mrmac]

Ooh I like that! That picture is so pretty!

[Deleted User]

Thanks!

I dedicate my bunny yard to member kralspace. I had put to rest any hopes of an outdoor area for my quartet, but after seeing all the pretty bunny set-ups for outside she had posted in the other thread https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx, I got back into the mood!

[Monkeybun]

I love that pic of Lint and Neigey.. its like they are saying “Otay, dis MAI side, dat YOUR side!”

[kralspace]

aw, Petzy, that’s so sweet! 😉

We’ve been working some long days and nights the last week so I’m afraid to come on the site. (once you start reading, you just can’t stop!)

I love the new pen and the bunnies look very, very happy. I like them sitting on the carriers plotting a way out already.

I bought some fencing and will have to get out there when this deadline is over with, keep the pics coming!

[Deleted User]

You bought fencing? What kind? Where are you going to put it? Oh, I get it, you’re busy right now!
BTW, with all this outdoor bunny action I did get some kitten advantage for mine to avoid any fleas that may be hiding in the grass.

[kralspace]

don’t get too excited, it was just a roll of vinyl covered wire fencing and some t-poles to experiment with. I had it in place, then found a 300 gal water storage cube and had to take the chain link and my vinyl fence down to get it in the back yard 😉

But it was for the bunnies, I wanted to collect rainwater from the garage to water the weeping willow tree. My neighbors comment of how pretty it’s getting and I’m thinking “Bunny Treats”.

[Deleted User]

You just stumbled upon a 300 gal tote? Very cool.

[Author]

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