Ermine

[Fishwrench]

I opened up my garage door the other day, and a white ermine shot out. Does anyone know if these things are a nuisance varmint, or should I just be happy that I saw him LEAVING my garage?

Is there a way to live trap them if needed? No, I'm not a PETA freak --- just don't want to have to kill or maim the poor little guy if I don't have to.

Thanks!

[monstermoose78]

they are great mousers so it might be a good thing to keep it around

[Jackpine Rob]

They can be bold little buggers! They are part of the Mustidae family, so they have a strong scent when they choose to use it.

As mentioned, they are effective at small varmint control, and will take on mice, rabbits, small birds and such. I found one munching on a garter snake under my air conditioning condensor a while back. Mmmm!

Because they are so very bold, they are not difficult to catch if need be. The problem with most of the live traps is that he might be too light to trigger them. Weasels like fresh meat, preferably bloody, so bait is easy. Back when I was a kid we used to wire a rat trap (like a honking big mouse trap) around a tree a few inches above the ground, with a chunk of bunny meat on the bait holder. Absolutely deadly. Of course the varmint is dead, but they make a cute wall hanging skinned out and tanned.

[mainbutter]

My advice is to leave him be unless he's causing actual damage, they're great to have around IMO!

[HunterLee]

He is only there for the mice. I trap quite a few of them. I would leave him alone and he will rid the mice for you and then leave.

[jigginjim]

Better than have a cat, you don't it have to bring it in at night. No stinky box to clean, and it will go away after the food is gone. you one can say you straved it into leaving.

[Fishwrench]

JigginJim - good point; no cat puke on my carpets either. Long live the ermine!

[jkcmj]

I catch them all the time in our Ketch-all wind up mouse traps, and occasionally in regular old mouse snap traps in people's attacks. I always hate to catch them since they are such varacious eaters of mice, but you always get a little collateral damage in war!