Its a MINK? UPDATE! page 4 GRAPHIC PIC

[muddler6]

I have trapped them with sardines in the past (actually setting for raccoons). What kind of trap are you using? Depending on state laws you may be limited to the type of trap you can use on land. If you catch one, just be prepared, they can be kinda nasty when they are in a trap if they are still alive.

 

[justusnak]

The coop it is getting into, is an older lean to part of the shop. Its temporary untill spring, when we build a bigger, better coop. It went through an opening about 2 inches wide.
I am useing a have a heart trap. I have 2 of them set...a small and a large. And, as for it being mean and nasty....only untill it gets its lead diet.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

use fish. Minks are carniverous. They spend their time around water.

 

[muddler6]

If you haven't already done so, try to cover the trap, or leave an opening between haybales so they can't see throught the trap, kinda like going into a cave, just make sure there is enough room for the mechanism to fire. If legal in your area, conibear traps will do the trick, and I have seen some set ups with plain old Rat traps set up on a board (but that would depend on the size of the mink)

And yes use fish!!

 

[justusnak]

Thanks everyone.....IF I dont get it in the trap tonight..I will go to the market tomorrow and get some fish. Should it be fresh, or canned...like canned salmon? It is very, shall we say...aromatic? LOL

 

[muddler6]

I have caught them with sardines, but if you know anyone who fishes an has an extra that would work. But you could also plan a fish dinner of some kind and just cut off a hunk and use it. Besides that might get your mind off that little critter for a while and give you something to do. Good Luck!!

 

[Parson's Wife]

My brother used to raise Mink, and he also was a pretty good trapper.
All the previous mentioned ideas are good, the fish or sardines, the only other suggestion he added was, you need to remove all human scent from your trap.
They have oils you can douse on the trap, after you boil it...
my brother boiled his in black walnuts. Then use gloves and once set, apply the oil...there is also oils to send the scent of a mating mink.
Hope this helps.

Oh, they will bite you, they have serious teeth. You will either have to shoot it, or knock it in the head. You cannot get close to them, regardless that they are small.

 

[justusnak]

Maybe tomorrow I will go to the local sporting goods store, and ask about some oils? Im sure my human smell is all over these traps, and they are huge, so there is no way I can boil them. Unless I use a metal trash can. Hmmmm. Im hopeing I can get it before I have to go through all that. Mink mateing scent hu?? Ohhh, I bet that stinks something bad!!

 

[pips&peeps]

Did you get the bugger?

 

[justusnak]

This afternoon, I put canned cat food...tuna..and vienna sausages in the traps. Slightly covered them..to make them like a cave....and came inside. I was listening to the monitors, when I hear the chickens freaking out..again!! So on go the boots, coat, and I grab the gun, ready to put an end to the miserable thing. All the RIR are looking in the direction of the have a heart trap....so I peeked in, its set off!! Something is in there!! I rattled it...it rattled back!! I was so excited...then, carefully I pulled the trap out into the open...to find..........one of my HENS!! They like TUNA!

So, I get her out....reset the trap...and make the opening smaller, so the hens dont fit! Well...I still have not caught the elusive mink. Wish me luck tonight!