Despite being endemic to our islands, sightings of the Maltese weasel (or ballotra) are few and far between. The last time we caught wind of one was several months ago, when a local nature photographer spotted one in the countryside.

The elusive creature is notoriously shy, and even if you do manage to spot one, it’s almost impossible to react quickly enough to catch it on camera – which makes the footage that local Aimee Cassar shot yesterday morning, all the more incredible. 

In the below video, a Maltese weasel can be seen wrangling with a large rat in Bingemma – taking it back home for a Christmas feast, perhaps?

Be warned, it’s quite the battle!