What Do I Do?there's I Stoat In My Garden!

[PiggySlave<3]

I guess this counts as health&illness?
Anyway there's something in my garden and all I know is one of my friends has seen one of the 'big grey guineapigs'in the old chicken shed and about a week ago all the newspaper and bedding had been pulled out one hutch.
Worst part:some of my girls are missing!I try my best to keep an eye on them but they keep disappearing! First it was little Winnie and liyla,then it was pip and her mummy and yesterday afternoon one of the girls who we were giving lots of TLC because she has mites,disappeared too,with one of my favoruite girls, MUNCHKIN! I think its a stoat but I'm not sure.

 

[Swissgreys]

Sorry to hear this, but I am not sure I understand your post fully.

Are you saying that your guinea pigs live outside in the garden, and 6 of your guinea pigs have 'gone missing'?
You are trying to keep an eye on them but they keep disappearing?

I am hoping that I have misunderstood, but if this really is the case then you need to bring your remaining piggies inside the house as soon as possible to protect them.
Clearly whatever is taking your guinea pigs is a skilled predator, and has now discovered a source of easy food.
If you are unable to bring your piggies inside then I would suggest surrendering hem to a rescue asap, where they will be safe.

 

[PiggySlave<3]

Sorry to hear this, but I am not sure I understand your post fully.

Are you saying that your guinea pigs live outside in the garden, and 6 of your guinea pigs have 'gone missing'?
You are trying to keep an eye on them but they keep disappearing?

I am hoping that I have misunderstood, but if this really is the case then you need to bring your remaining piggies inside the house as soon as possible to protect them.
Clearly whatever is taking your guinea pigs is a skilled predator, and has now discovered a source of easy food.
If you are unable to bring your piggies inside then I would suggest surrendering hem to a rescue asap, where they will be safe.

We keep them all outside in hutches but in the daytime when we let them in the run they keep disappearing but we try our best to watch them as much as we can

 

[Swissgreys]

We keep them all outside in hutches but in the daytime when we let them in the run they keep disappearing but we try our best to watch them as much as we can

So there is your answer.
Clearly they are not safe in the run, and sorry to be blunt, but it should not have taken the loss of 6 piggies for you to work this out.
If none have been taken from their hutches then it would be best to not let them out during the day until you have found a way to make the daytime run more secure.
Stoats are amazing predators and can squeeze through very small gaps, so maybe the run needs reinforcing with extra wire.
They can also dig so it is important to make sure an animal cant dig into he run, or open the doors.
We use basic clips on the doors of all of our outdoor runs to ensure nothing can get them open.

 

[PiggySlave<3]

So there is your answer.
Clearly they are not safe in the run, and sorry to be blunt, but it should not have taken the loss of 6 piggies for you to work this out.
If none have been taken from their hutches then it would be best to not let them out during the day until you have found a way to make the daytime run more secure.
Stoats are amazing predators and can squeeze through very small gaps, so maybe the run needs reinforcing with extra wire.
They can also dig so it is important to make sure an animal cant dig into he run, or open the doors.
We use basic clips on the doors of all of our outdoor runs to ensure nothing can get them open.

Thanks! We will try to keep them in the hitches until we find out what itis. It has been since our dog died a couple weeks ago that they had started dissapearing

 

[PiggySlave<3]

Thanks! We will try to keep them in the hitches until we find out what itis. It has been since our dog died a couple weeks ago that they had started dissapearing

*hutches

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Oh my god that's awful! I would 100% bring them all inside, if any of my piggies went missing I would be beside myself! I'm upset enough to think about your piggies being killed! Please please bring them inside and secure your garden and search it, I really hope you find them and they're okay

If you can't bring them inside I second @Swissgreys reply, take them to a rescue. Our job is to keep them happy and safe, if we can't do that then we need to think of the welfare of our babies

 

[Wiebke]

If you can, please bring all your piggies inside until you have made absolutely sure that all hutches are totally safe, locked and that any mesh cannot be pried open or bitten through. Also ensure that you only have runs that a stoat cannot wiggle or burrow into and that also have a firm cover that cannot be pried open. Only use these runs when you are around.

You also need to make sure that if you leave your piggies in your hutches in hot weather that they cannot die from heat stroke while you are away. That is why it would be best to bring them all indoors until you have sorted out everything and tested it, so you do not risk losing any more.
Hot Weather Management And Heat Strokes

Do not leave them where you can lose any more. Once a predator has found a convenient source of prey, it is going to return until they have all gone. Your dog may have acted as a protection, but that is now gone.

 

[PiggySlave<3]

I have gotten a new hutch! I will keep it right outside the door (it is a hutch with an upstairs room) I don't have much space outside but I can fit some room for them inside

 

[Skittypigs]

Stoats are pretty evil, but you don't want to lose anymore, I know it's not the best them being inside but safety is paramount. X