Leijpark013

@leijpark013 · 11 Apr 2022

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Leijpark 013 Weasel

Published by Thierry P. Dinjens · 1 hour ·
In the Leijpark, animals are found that are best seen regularly, but are rarely photographed to never. The reason is that they are moving at lightning speed. What you see is a flash and then the moment is over. This week, however, it was time for a young photographer to have the luck (and patience) to capture such a hidden resident of the Leij Park on the sensitive record. We are talking about a member of the family of martenids and also the smallest predator in Europe: the Weasel.
Anyone who thinks the Weasel was 'visiting 'in the park, is mistaken. De Weasel has been seen regularly and for many years. A Weasel usually doesn't get very old, usually only a year to several years. The fact that the animal has been seen in the Leij Park for at least twenty years indicates that there is a viable population that has lasted for decades. Of course, that is beautiful!
A Weasel loves shelter. Low bushes, wood piles and dry soil full of old rabbit burrows are ideal for weasels. More than 85% of their food consists of voles, so where there are no voles, there are usually no weasels either. In addition to voles, weasels eat mice, young bunnies, rats, moles, birds, snails, frogs and eggs. A very varied menu and everything on his menu can be found in the Leijpark.
From January 2017, the new Nature Protection Act will be in force. It allows provinces to choose to remove certain species from the list of protected animals and, unfortunately, many provinces have stripped the weasel of its protected status. But not everywhere. In North Brabant (here) and North Holland, the rest and stays of the weasel are protected. In fact, the bottom line is that the Leijpark would be protected area or better:. In practice, this is not the case, so here is a task for our local politics. Protecting the whereabouts of the weasel benefit so many other animals and plants, that it would be a true blessing for Tilburg if we can have the Leij Park declared a protected area.
It's impossible to tell where the Weasel will resurface. The animals move a lot within their territory and now sleep here, then again there. Traces of the weasels can be searched around wood piles. Their latrines (the place where they leave their stools) are usually located around fallen logs or stacked wood on top. Weasels are excellent climbers and are so successful in their hunt for mice because they are so slim that they fit into a mouse hole with ease. Mice don't stand a chance when this small but formidable rover comes in.
The Weasel pictured was photographed for you and me in Leijpark, by young Tilburg photographer Roland van Elewout, who lives a stone's throw from the Leijpark. Of course, a great shot at the mark! It is hoped that this beautiful animal will be able to run along the forest sheds of the Leijpark for a long time, like a small brown heartbeat. It's up to all of us to make that happen!
Photo: Roland van Elewout





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