loss to a ferret ( I stand corrected a Mink!)

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I had my first loss to a predator last night. Only my biggest and favorite Roo. To a Ferret, they are wild here in Idaho. I shot the nasty bugger so I guess we will see if there are relatives. He wouldn't leave, he was determined to take my boy with him whether I was out there or not! My second in command Roo bravely ran away (in the dark no less) so thankfully he is still here this morn.

 

[jhm47]

If it was a wild black-footed ferret, I'd not be posting about it. They are on the endangered species list, and the government has spent many millions trying to restore them to their former range. Are you sure you aren't talking about either a weasel or mink? BF ferrets are very rare, and live in prairie dog colonies.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

It was for sure a ferret, but not the black foot. This one looked like a pet that had been let loose, was not really afraid of me and had been mewling around the property for a couple of hours, we just didn't know what was making the noise.

 

[cgmccary]

Katy, so sorry for the loss of your Rooster to the ferret/ weasel. They will kill everything so good you got the weasel after the loss of just one-- you saved a bunch more of your birds.

Interesting, the thought about black-footed, which are indeed rare (don''t they prey on Prairie Dogs? and are now relegated to just a few wild populations?)---

. . . likely a Mink or like you say, someone's ferret that got loose, & which are a dime a dozen at the pet store (and have short lives anyway).

Chris

 

[cgmccary]

Katy:

I looked up the weasels that are indigenous to Idaho &:

Mink: This is our only uniformly dark brown weasel-like animal with a white patch on its chin (Body Length to 28 inches; Tail length to 8 inches).

Long-tailed Weasel: This is our only weasel with brown feet and white underparts. (Length to 23 inches; tail to 7 inches)

Most likely a MINK but could be a LONGTAILED. Minks are notorious for killing chickens.

Interestingly, you also have Ermines (in winter, white with black-tipped tail vs. in summer, brown above with white feet & underparts)-- hmmm small, only to 14 inches tail to 4 inches. Bet they are pretty.

In Northern Idaho (there are Martens, distinguished by a pale buff patch on its throat and chest) Length to 30 inches Tail to 10 inches-- RARE to see as they' re wary of people, so NOT this. There seems to be Fishers in some parts of Idaho but they are a deep woods dweller and not usually a chicken killer. There is also the smallest carnivore, the Least Weasel, usually 5-6 inches, never larger than 9 inches, and the only one without a black tipped tail-- I think my birds would probably kill it though & it is not a threat to poultry.

Chris

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

lol Chris, you are always right.
Do you know lawyers wives are the only ones who never get to win an argument?
I looked up the pictures; it was a mink. A small one, with a summer coat. Now if you could only figure out why my Buckeyes . . . and only my Buckeyes are sick!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

and . . I found out to day there is a mink population in the next pond over. The dog breeder a few houses down has been loosing his pigeons to them. So I guess we will be relocating a nice little mink family.

 

[kimbobim]

What part of Boise are you in? Anywhere near the river or bigger canals? We used to live in SE Boise, near the river. We saw mink all the time between the river and the Logger Creek/Parkcenter ponds area - and some of them were huge (my old neighbor claimed they ate his cats' food). Apparently somebody down there used to breed them a few decades back and a bunch were either released or got loose - so there are mink all along the river in SE Boise.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

If you happen to have to kill it then save it and skin it for something. Mink fur is the BEST IMO.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Yep, I not only live on the river but next to several ponds full of wildlife. I thought it was ferret due to the size & color. But as ususal cgmccary is right, after looking at the pics he pointed out it definately is a small mink with a summer coat - which by the way is not appealing. I have a mink coat that apparently came from ink in VERY cold climate. This little bugger was a killer and not afraid of us at all I was able to get with in about two feet to shoot him.