Country Life
BY IAN NIALL Accourrrs of stoats and weasels hunting in packs have always been prevalent, and I have seen families of weasels at it many times. They have a mad moment or two when they rush after each other as though the entire litter had been tied together on a cord. To me they never seemed menacing and I always felt that they were oblivious to all save themselves. I proved this by throwing a stone or shouting and watching the litter scatter, but a reader who lives in Moffat writes: 'I was disturbed to find in today's Scotsman the following which seems to indicate that northern weasels are taking to bigger prey. "The myxomatosis epidemic having killed off most of the rabbits in Peeblesshire, boxes and, weasels, desperate with hunger, are beginning to raid farm live- stock. Weesels are hunting in packs and are now so desperate that they are actually attack- ing men."' Country walks are going to be a perilous business for dogs and their owners if this becomes common, and while I know that stoats at least travel in packs and will attack anything that crosses their path, and have once seen them on the move in this fashion, I am wondering what measures to take for protection if I meet weasels who fancy me as a main dinner dish.
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