Is Chester the Weasel Ready for Release? | Live | Rescued & Returned to the Wild | Robert E Fuller

This broadcast was recorded live and follows the story of Chester the rescue weasel and his release back to the wild. It includes clips filmed during his rehabilitation, facts about weasels and a live Q&A.

You can watch more on Chester's rehabilitation journey in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFPpoptwiUGc4dkMrRBJL7eX and find more rescue films here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFNg5NQGwqtQENWHGtJnh7WK

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*ABOUT THIS FILM*
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Chester's story

Chester was found alone when just a tiny kit and gets his name from a rendezvous garage in Chesterfield, where one of my colleagues collected him before driving him up here to be cared for.

Releasing Chester the rescue weasel

Chester is roughly eight months old and ready for a life in the wild. Naturally, a weasel would be living independently by eight weeks, however Chester arrived with me in the autumn and I am waiting for better weather before I set him free.

Chester currently lives in a large outdoor enclosure, originally built as a habitat for wild weasels and then later enclosed. There is only one way in and that is through a tiny hole covered in mesh, just small enough for a weasel to slip in and out of but too small for a stoat to follow it. When the time is right I will simply take away the mesh so Chester can come and go as he pleases.

How difficult is it to rehabilitate weasels?

It is extremely difficult to release injured or abandoned weasels successfully. These animals are so small they depend on their wits to survive in the wild and need to learn how to assess danger from an early age - a difficult thing to replicate in captivity. I want to give him the best chance of survival by making sure the conditions are right when he goes.

How will I know when Chester is ready?

Shortly after I moved Chester into his outdoor enclosure, I spotted him catch a vole that had got into the enclosure without my knowing. It is illegal in this country to feed live prey to animals in captivity and had I known the vole was there I would have tried to get it out. However, Chester found it pretty quickly and his instincts set in instantly. I don't think he will have any trouble in the wild!

Weasel intelligence

For its size, a weasel has a huge brain. If you compare the skull of a lion with that of a weasel you can see how the brain cavity of a lion is very small in relation to its jaws, it is all brawn and no brain, whilst a weasel has a large brain cavity as well as significantly-sized jaws.

Weasel bite

Weasels are the smallest carnivores in the world, and yet they have a powerful bite. I have been bitten a few times by weasels and I can tell you they have teeth like needles that really hurt! A weasel will follow its bite with a twist, spinning round to knock their prey over.

Weasel prey

Weasels normally prey on small mammals, but if hungry they will also tackle lizards, frogs and even snakes. I have witnessed a wild weasel kill a rat almost double its size!

Identifying a weasel

Weasels are often confused for stoats. The main difference is size, weasels are much smaller. Weasels also have two dark spots under their chins and a jagged line where the chestnut brown fur on their back meets the cream of their belly.

Weasel rehabilitation

I am now experienced at raising weasels and releasing them into the wild. Read how my journey began with a tiny weasel named Twiz: https://www.robertefuller.com/diary/rescuing-a-wild-weasel-kit/

*ABOUT ME*
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I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.

You may like to purchase my artwork which you can find on my website: https://www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the wonderful characters you watch here!

You can also follow me on these platforms:
Website: https://www.robertefuller.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertEFullerArt/
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© Robert E Fuller

Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: mail@robertefuller.com

#robertefuller #weasel #stoats #rescuedandreturned #wildliferehabilitation

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