Squealing rabbit fights for its life as it is dragged across road in stoat’s jaws

This is the moment a rabbit escapes the jaws of death after being dragged across the road by a stoat in Scotland.

In footage recorded last week by Emma Killicoat, 33, the bunny can be heard squealing as it is carried by its neck in Ellon, Aberdeenshire. 

The stoat appears to stumble over the kerb upon reaching grassland on the other side of the road, giving the rabbit the chance to break free.

A video recorded in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, shows a rabbit being dragged by its neck in the jaws of a stoat 

The stoat, despite being much smaller, drags the bunny to the other side of the busy road

The stoat can be seen appearing to trip over the kerb, giving the rabbit a split second to escape

The bunny jumps out of the stoat’s mouth and both are seen sprinting in different directions 

They are both seen sprinting off in different directions.  

According to the Woodland Trust, rabbits are a stoat’s favoured prey, even though they can be more than five times their size.

Ms Killicoat posted the video on Facebook on Saturday with the caption: ‘Whilst out walking by the meadows last week I saw this, is it a stoat?’

The post has seen dozens of people commenting on the chance encounter.

One social media user said: ‘Well done, nature at work, saved the rabbit.’

Another said: ‘Holy hell. That’s a crazy video’, while one replied: ‘I hate hearing rabbits squeal. Amazing video though.’ 

Speaking Monday, Ms Killicoat, of Ellon, said: ‘I was out walking along Meadows Way in Ellon near the River Ythan.

‘I heard the noise first and saw them run across in front of me before going over the wall.

‘That’s when I began the video.

‘Initially I thought it was a squirrel and a rabbit chasing each other then realised it was something quite different. 

Stoats can hunt rabbits much larger than themselves by providing a fatal bite to the base their skulls (file photo)

Stoats are known to ‘dance’ in a bid to mesmerise rabbits and have been observed leaping and thrashing around in a motion that appears to hypnotise their prey (file photo) 

‘I realised it was something quite unique and naturally thought I should film it to try and find out what it was.’ 

Stoats are known to ‘dance’ in a bid to mesmerise rabbits.

They have been observed leaping and thrashing around in a motion that appears to hypnotise their prey.

They can hunt rabbits much larger than themselves by providing a fatal bite to the base their skulls. 

They also eat insects, fish reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.