Red foxes and short-tailed weasels (called “stoats” in the UK) are both carnivorous predators.

In the U.K. red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are twice as tall as stoats (Mustela erminea) and outweigh them by 13 pounds (23 times heavier!) but stoats are fierce and almost fearless, killing prey four times larger than themselves. In the UK, male stoats easily kill European rabbits (photo here).

What happens when a fox hunts a stoat? This video tweeted by @kremington11 provides one answer.

My friend just sent me this Amazing footage. pic.twitter.com/GMJ8c2nKE5

— jimboboings1169 (@kremington11) August 27, 2020

I’m sure a fox-vs-stoat battle doesn’t always end this way but you can bet that this particular fox has reconsidered his desire to eat stoats.

@DeanLittleHigh‘s reply is exactly on target.

If stoats were the size of labradors we’d have run out of cows by now.

(photos from Wikimedia Commons; video embedded from Twitter)

p.s. Short-tailed weasels / stoats turn white in winter. Their winter fur is called ermine.