Quick answer
Stoats feed on carnivore — rabbits, rodents, birds, and eggs, adjusting seasonally based on local habitat and prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Stoats are mammals that rely on carnivore — rabbits, rodents, birds, and eggs. The stoat is a small fierce mustelid that turns white in northern winters except for a black tail tip — the ermine coat prized in medieval regalia. Weighing 200–400 g, living about 7 years, and reaching 25 km/h, it hunts rabbits many times its size with a neck bite.
Feeding behaviour
Foraging strategy varies by season. Stoats may hunt, graze, filter-feed, or scavenge depending on ecology.
Role in the food web
As mammals, they interact with predators, prey, and competitors across their range.
Human-related feeding risks
Never feed wild stoats — it habituates animals to people and can spread disease.
Sources
FAQs
What do stoats eat?
Carnivore — rabbits, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Are stoats carnivores or herbivores?
Their diet is best described as: carnivore — rabbits, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Do stoats change diet seasonally?
Yes — many species shift food sources as seasons and prey abundance change.
Can I feed wild stoats?
No — feeding wild animals is unsafe and often illegal.