Weasels are the UK's smallest carnivore and are declining significantly with limited understanding of causes, facing secondary poisoning and accidental trapping.
Secondary rodenticide exposure through field vole prey causes coagulopathy. Accidental trapping in stoat or rat traps causes death or injury. Habitat loss removes the rough grassland edges they depend on for hunting. Weasels in areas with heavy rodenticide use face chronic sub-lethal exposure. Despite their ecological importance, weasels receive little conservation attention.