Behaviour and Life-cycle
Agile and excellent climbers, stoats hunt
at any time, day or night. Home ranges are generally large 60-200ha,
and considerable distances can be travelled in short periods.
A single litter is produced annually of up to 12 kits (mean
6-8), from late September (northern areas) to late October
(cooler climes). Den sites are well hidden and changed frequently.
Young are independent from early January. Nearly all females
leaving their natal nest are already pregnant but delay development
of the fertilised eggs until the following spring.
They have excellent powers of dispersal and individual juveniles
have been known to travel over 70km in two weeks. They are
also strong swimmers, known to have crossed water gaps of up
to 1.1km to reach islands.
Stoats are found throughout New Zealand at all altitudes,
but are common in forest and open country.
Main foods are rodents, birds, rabbits hares, possums and
insects, particularly weta. Lizards, freshwater crayfish, carrion,
birds, eggs, hedgehogs and fish are also taken.
Most stoats (>80%) live less than one year, but adult mortality
is lower, and a few may reach 6-8 years of age.
Populations can vary significantly in response to food availability.
Large increases in population occur in the year following beech
tree 'mast' seeding years due to increased abundance of mice
and possibly also birds and invertebrate populations. Similar
increases can occur in podocarp and broadleaf forests during
cyclical heavy fruiting seasons.
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