Stoats and weasels are native UK mustelids that play important ecological roles as predators of small mammals. Their welfare is affected by trapping, habitat quality and prey availability.
Stoat and weasel welfare concerns centre primarily on trapping practices and prey availability. Spring traps approved for stoats and weasels must kill quickly - kill efficiency standards are set under the Spring Trap Approval Order. However, trap placement, maintenance and check frequency all affect whether traps function as intended or cause prolonged suffering. Weasels caught in traps designed for stoats may not be killed instantly. Prey population crashes - particularly vole population troughs in cyclical years - cause winter starvation in weasels. Habitat management that maintains diverse, vole-rich grassland reduces the severity of prey crashes.