Dog 0, Rodent 1

Boondox · Nov 27, 2004

( I found it! It is a Least Weasel.

Illinois DNR website

Their description, and the picture are dead on.

Dave )

Yup, and the problem is they don't know they're so small!

Pete

sneaky_pete · Nov 27, 2004

( Yup, and the problem is they don't know they're so small!)

An apt description of my wife's Jack Russell Terriers also. The female has killed critters far larger than she is. They have faced down all the dogs on our road, some of which are many times their size. She took on a neighbor's goat once, but she couldn't reach it's neck to break it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Any living thing (besides humans and other dogs) that moves has "vermin" stamped on its forehead, in the minds of these little wonders.

It would be interesting to see one of them take on a Least Weasel. If they did, I wouldn't bet on the weasel.

RoyJackson · Nov 27, 2004

"Yup, and the problem is they don't know they're so small!"

Yep...but a 12 Gauge will convince them they're small! A fairly light game load should do the deed.

DaveNay · Nov 27, 2004

My dog is mostly terrier, and we believe Jack Russel, and this little critter was definitely holding his own. Joker (the dog) has killed more than his fair share of mice, chipmunks, voles and rabbits. Like Pete said, this thing just had no clue as to what size it is.

Dave

SPIKER · Nov 27, 2004

I'd say that HOLE is almost big enough to get the dog HOME FOR DINNER finally, that little weesel been working hard for it's supper I'd say /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif LOL

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

goodoleboy · Nov 28, 2004

While you grabbed the camera you should of grabbed a shovel. I dont know if they are a carrier of rabies but if in my yard i wouldnt chance it. I know we must conhabitat with nature but when we have animals who come in the house and contact with humans I want my family safe.
My lab has rule of the of the yard. Anything she cant handle scares me. We had a few skunks in the back and i know they carry rabies. Everytime i see one I never have a rifle handy.

Glad you figured out what it was seriously check and see if they are prone to rabies.

Junkman · Nov 28, 2004

All mammals are prone to getting rabies, but it isn't as common as people make it out to be. Back in the 1980's rabies made a big comeback, and many animals died as a result. I believe that it was Mother nature culling out the weak. Today, there isn't the incident of rabies that there was back then. You can usually tell when an animal has rabies by its behavior, unless it is in the very early stages. That is one very important reason to make sure that your pets, both dog and cat, are vaccinated. It isn't the rabies that scares me, but the animals ability to do harm in other ways to the dog that I worry about. The link described how it does its killing of prey. Just because a dog is larger, doesn't mean that it is faster or more adept at fighting a animal that it has never encountered before. It took my dog 2 tries before he figured out how to kill porcupines. After the second time, he killed 3 on separate occasions. Then he learned that the cost of the kill wasn't worth the pain he inflicted upon himself.

Dozernut · Nov 29, 2004

Good write up and identification. When I was a kid we had a weasel get in the chicken house. It went on a killing frenzy, going after the sleeping chickens on the roost. That was many years ago and I think I remember a dozen chickens were killed before it's blood lust was satisfied. My mother was pretty upset to lose her laying hens. My dad was an experienced trapper and finally managed to trap the weasel, but it took some effort as they are a wary animal. If you have small animals on your place I would eliminate it or have it relocated. Your dog could probably kill it, but it will get hurt in the process.

citytransplant · Oct 19, 2007

Dozernut said:
It went on a killing frenzy, going after the sleeping chickens on the roost ... If you have small animals on your place I would eliminate it or have it relocated. Your dog could probably kill it, but it will get hurt in the process.

WANTED: DEAD or ALIVE
One Killer Weasel

We let our bantam chickens range freely during the day and roost in their enclosed coop (actually a converted outhouse ... 3 holer) at night. Three days ago we found a chicken dead in the coop with her neck slit. The following afternoon we found another dead in the pasture, with its neck broken but no visible wounds. Closer examination of outhouse floor revealed that the perpetrator chewed his or her way through to get to their prey. It looks like the little sucker has taken up residence in the barn under stacks of hay. We set a trap using ground beef 2 days ago but no takers as of yet. My wife switched bait to cat food earlier today. I will post pictures when I get a chance. I read that pound for pound, the weasel is the most vicious fur bearing animal on the face of the earth. It is no coincidence that I haven't seen too many mice or chipmunks around lately.

Pray for our 2 barn cats.

citytransplant · Oct 19, 2007

citytransplant said:
Closer examination of outhouse floor revealed that the perpetrator chewed his or her way through to get to their prey. It looks like the little sucker has taken up residence in the barn under stacks of hay. We set a trap using ground beef 2 days ago but no takers as of yet.

Wife nailed a block over first entry hole made in the outhouse/coop and the next night that persistent sucker chewed another right along side of the first. Hopefully the next picture that I post will be of the stone cold killer behind bars ... errr ... wire.