A Weasel and Brown Rat encounter at Rainham Marshes

9th January 2022

We had completed the main circuit on the reserve and walked the length of the river wall when we decided to walk past the Serin Mound to Wennington Marsh to see if there were any harriers or owls on show. Just a couple distant harriers but then I was side-tracked by a movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned round just in time to see a Brown Rat run across the path into the undergrowth, closely followed by a Weasel. Almost immediately the two returned to the centre of the path and the battle commenced.

The fight was carried out at a ferocious pace with the two animals locked together and rolling on the ground at great speed. I had to select these photos when they paused for a split second so I could eliminate the blur.

The battle won, the Weasel dragged the rat into the undergrowth for a feast.

That will keep it going for a few days.