Stoat
Mustela erminea
Carlwm
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Status:
Stoats are thought to be widespread and relatively common in Snowdonia, despite being hard to record. The stoat is a native mustelid, but has no protection under UK legislation and is not on any Biodiversity Action Plan list. It is included in Appendix III of the Bern Convention (European law), so signatory states must keep its status under consideration.
Records of sightings have come from across Snowdonia, including the high mountain valleys on Snowdon itself and the Migneint moorland. Animals avoid open ground, so usually hunt and move around using field boundaries, rocky areas or woodland edges. Their main prey is rabbits, but they are generalist feeders and will hunt opportunistically for what they can find.