LAMBS WORRIED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 2, 24 October 1924, Page 2

LAMBS WORRIED

iJfF STOATS ATTACK FLOCK. AN ACCLIMATISATION MATTER. KANCiATAUA FARMER’S LOSSES* In connection with the report that stoats (or weasels) had killed lamln on the farm of a Rangataua farmei, the Secretary of the Stratford Acclimatisation Society (Mr (L A. Carter) has received the following correspondence from the Secretary of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Society, asking that the most searching enquiry be made from sheepfarmers with a view, to ascertaining it there is any further evidence, of lambs being killed by stoats or weasels. Mr A. C. Henderson, Secretary to the Waimarino Society, writes: Hearing a rumor that stoats were attacking lambs in the Rangataua district, I visited that locality on Saturday, the list inst., and found that the rumors were of well authenticated origin, and on visiting the farm of Mr F. Nicol, I got the enclosed statement from him, and went round a portion of the farm near the house, where I saw numerous remains Of lambs, but all too far gone for examination. However, this morning Mr Nicol brought a lamb into Raetihi, which had been killed on Saturday night, and I had it examined by Dr. W. J. Feltham, and he gave me a statement which I also enclose herewith. Mr Nicol’s statement is witnessed by four well known neighbours of Mr Nicol’s. I weighed the lamb in a local butcher’s shop and found it weighed 251bs. There was no evidence of hair from the head of the stoat in the carcase examined by Doctor Feltham, but the puncture in the skin was very small, an d the stoat apparently stretched the skin round the puncture sufficiently get its nose in, and worked round on the ribs of the animal by shifting the loose skin about. lam requesting Mr Nicol to examine any further cases for hairs from the Stoat before-witnesses, and send any that may he found in for identification purposes.

. STATEMENT OP OWNER. I, the undersigned Fredrick Nicol, farmer, Mountain Road, Rangataua, have a flock of 436 breeding ewes, and from this number of ewes have now remaining not more than 150 lambs through the depredations of stoats. The number of lambs found dead with two small punctures upon the flank behind the short rib has impressed upon me the necessity of giving up sheep breeding in future The stoat makes this puncture in the skin, and then gnaws its way to the heart. ■ Although the punctures only appear small on the outside—not more than 3 of an inch in diameter—the skin is apparently stretched to take the head of the stoat as it works its way to the heart.

I have found as many as 23 lambs dead in one morning round of my flock, and on one occasion I found 14 lambs within an area of a square chain all hearing the same punctures and marks of attack. In every case I have examined I have found hairs from the fur of the stoat inside the body of the lamb. I have seen stoats or weasels (I am not sure which is which) running away from the vicinity of dead lambs, and found the carcase still warm. This has been going on right through the lambing season, and I have been afraid to do my docking on account of the blood attracting more vermin. They have apparently ceased their attack on my stock during the last few days, but have during that time attacked my neighbour’s, Mr Punch’s lambs. I have found lambs as heavy as 30 lbs killed by these vermin. We, the undersigned, neighbours of Mr F. Nichol, have read the foregoing statement, and from the evidence of our own eyes can testify that it is absolutely correct. 13th October, 1924. (Signed): F. Punch, W. T. Remus, F. W. Hall, H. Woodley. Dr. W. J. Feltham wrote as follows: I hereby certify that I examined the carcase of a lamb by request of Mr A. 0. Henderson. There was a small wound Of the skin On the left flank, about 3-Bin. in diameter. Under this the flesh was torn and ragged, and noticeably devoid of blood. Several of the ribs were disconnected from their cartilages and the tissues generally appeared to have been sucked or chewed. There was a quantity of blood in the tissues of the right side though everything else was normal. This was probably due to the fact that the animal was lying on the right side when the damage was done, and 'the blood gravitated f.n th\it direction.