I have strong feelings about "mink farm(er)s"

[BlindLemonChicken]

Well…in that case I would keep traps baited and set. The mink farm doesn’t know the mink is missing so they won’t know if it’s dead. Unless, of course, you courteously return it to them

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Well…in that case I would keep traps baited and set. The mink farm doesn’t know the mink is missing so they won’t know if it’s dead. Unless, of course, you courteously return it to them

The mink farms here will tell you to shoot them if you want. They don't take them back even if you catch them alive. (They won't put them back in a cage in case they picked up diseases) (*but perhaps if they took them back, that could be considered admitting fault or be accused of stealing?)

We have tried traps. They rarely work. Usually you end up catching other animals you didn't want to catch. Here, at least. Plus, anything set free from a trap has learned to avoid traps.

These mink farm mink aren't looking for food. They kill for sport. And they kill as much as they can in a short amount of time. These ones...... know how to get back "home". To eat.

*returning a dead mink could be seen as harassment. The law protects them, not anybody they harm.

 

[FrostRanger]

Free ranging is no longer an option.
Also, fence in your coop and run, duck hut, etc.
and invest in a couple of LGD puppies to keep in the fence and raise with your animals
to protect them. They can be trained.

In this case I would actually invest in some terriers or dachunds as an lgd would be too big to effectively hunt mink (they might catch a few careless or unlucky ones but they can't get the places they can)

That said, I think predator proofing would be better but given this is a larger issue I would at least consider a good ratter if you ever decide to get another dog in the future

 

[BoundlessLove]

In this case I would actually invest in some terriers or dachunds as an lgd would be too big to effectively hunt mink (they might catch a few careless or unlucky ones but they can't get the places they can)

That said, I think predator proofing would be better but given this is a larger issue I would at least consider a good ratter if you ever decide to get another dog in the future

Yeah, possibly a fox terrier.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Plus, anything set free from a trap has learned to avoid traps.

Definitely wasn’t thinking it should be set free. That’s not why I set traps anyway. I realize some people are big on relocating things but I’m not sure how making a critter someone else’s problem is a good solution. Definitely agree with the above that a proactive solution is the only viable one. Personally I don’t wait for raccoons to go after my chickens-if I see them on the game cam or see their tracks I trap them and relocate them to raccoon heaven.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yeah, relocating is often illegal. I did it once bc I had no other option and realized immediately what a horrible "solution" it was. And got a better solution.

 

[McChooky]

Humph. I have three dogs in the house and not one of them said boo about the opossum in the back porch last week. Guard dogs indeed. I guess they didn't think the trash needed protection.

I trained my Basset hound and another mutt a couple years ago and they were excellent 'chicken dogs' until this year. Now the Basset has decided he doesn't want to stay outside and watch chickens so he howls at the door

 

[McChooky]

Trappers use a weasel box with bait and a victor rat trap inside.When the weasel smells the bait and crawls inside the box to investigate thru a predrilled hole its killed by a specific type of rat trap(Victor with yellow pad) Weasels stockpile food to stay alive so they're especially dangerous around poultry.If you have a pond nearby or a mink farm your best bet would be a couple rat terriers