Can anyone tell me what this is??

[CWDancer]

My cat caught it by the chicken coop, which makes me a bit nervous to say the least! Is it a mink? We live about a half mile from the river and have a creek running through our property at the bottom of the hill.

Under the chin and neck area it is white, the rest of it is black and has beautiful fur.
Thanks
Diane

 

[rocknchickenfam]

Looks like a mink for sure

 

[sunflour]

Looks like a mink for sure

X2

Never seen one, but looks exactly like those in pics. You should review protection against minks.

 

[CWDancer]

OK I found it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mink-chicken-predators-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-mink
For anyone else who might need the link.
I have 18 inches of galvanized steel all the way around my chicken coop, and the original half of my run. Just cemented a section as well and have lots of rock buried along the area that does not have the 18 inch steel barrier. SO I'm hoping that's enough. AS for the cat, she's a fantastic hunter as you can see!!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Weasels dont' have fur like that, mink for sure.

 

[lmboeder]

Looks like a young mink to me. Adult males and females are usually bigger than that. They can be pretty nasty when they are threatened so good thing you have a bad a** cat!! Lol

 

[CWDancer]

Weasels dont' have fur like that, mink for sure.

Thanks Tara, I changed the post above before I saw your comment to show the link sunflour was talking about, and theres a picture of a mink on that link. Looks just like it so I know its a mink.
Diane

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I also agree that it must be a young one which says that you may well have a family nearby. You might check into traps and security for minks. Good luck and give that feline a treat!!!

 

[123RedBeard]

Good puddy-cat!

There rarely is just one mink ...

 

[sunflour]

@CWDancer Make sure you explore for any opening of 1" , reports show they can squeeze thru those, climb as well as a cat, and dig as well as a dog. 1/2" hardware cloth buried around the perimeter under those rocks would be a good idea. If the steel is inside a fence then they might be able to climb above and enter, if outside do ya think they jump as well? I have witnessed squirrels jump about 3 feet up a tree trunk and bet those minks can too.

Do set some traps at night to see if you can catch more - of course ones that cannot harm kitty.

Congrats to the great hunter CAT - could I borrow her? I have an excess of squirrels and chipmunks I would love to lose.

Good luck and hope the mink issue doesn't pose any loses, and the Cat keeps hunting.