Mink attack

[dumb_cluck]

Minks are very territorial and trap wary. Even if you trap this one, another will eventually take over the territory.

The trapper we contacted said just to make sure all access to the ducks and chickens are completely sealed off, and to keep checking that another entry is not occurring.

He also said that sometimes mink will make or attempt a kill and may return the next day, a week from then or even months later.

Hate to rain on the parade, but you are dealing with ruthless predators. They are furry little pipe cleaners that can squeeze into the smallest openings.

I'd concentrate on sealing off the access to the ducks/chickens and just keep an eye out. Good luck.

 

[veronicasmom]

Thanks. Sealing up the pens is next to impossible. The trapper we talked to said that they are not all that hard to catch and are not that common in our area. Just hoping by not allowing anyone to be unsupervised in the pens we can avoid another problem.
I am still not sure if I am going to take the ducks back to the shelter. My husband does not want me to, but I am not sure I can keep worrying about them endlessly and I think the quality of their life will be diminished if we have to keep them locked in the shed so much more than they are used to.
It makes me sick to my stomach to think of doing that and not having ducks any more. But I cannot be selfish and put them in harms way. The rabbits are okay in their shed, and will still get play time, so I think they are alright, but the ducks are the ones that are affected more.
IDK, I just keep crying and crying. 10 years and this never happened. I hate it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know this is hard for you, we have tons of predators, and mink and I let my ducks and chickens out everyday for free range. It's just the decision i have made, Haven't lost any of my ducks to predation but have lost a few chickens, but in the end they all are happier and healthier being out where they can forage and just have free time. We do have dogs that can be outside and do bark alot which may keep some preds away but minks and other animals like them are so sneaky they could probably be here and gone before our dogs would know. I'd hate to hear you gave up your ducks that you rescued from the shelter, sounds like you care so much about them. I hope you can make the best decision for you and them.

 

[newbyduckmom]

I am relatively new to duck owning - we've had ours since last March. We live in an area with lots of predators (including mink, which I didn't know we had until I started reading up on them after your post). We have done our best to secure the duck house. I put them in before dark. And the house is secure. But come 7 am or whenever it is light enough to let them out, they are out in their run. And I take them down to the pond twice a day for a dip - 99 percent supervised (sometimes I let them stay a little longer - 10 minutes or so without supervision - when I simply cannot get them out of the pond!) . Most of the day they are in their run if we are home, the smaller run if we are not. Predator could get to them in the larger run. I worry about it - a lot. But the ducks are so much happier outside, I just cannot leave them penned inside all day when someone is home. I will be heartbroken if something happens, but truly cannot leave them locked up all day. We have duck cams, motion sensors, and dogs, fences, etc - but one day something will likely happen. I will feel horrible. Short of building 'Fort Knox', there's no sure way to protect them 100 percent and still let them have some quality of life.

There's a book out that I have found helpful, Living with Wildlife, by Russel Link. He's works for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. A lot of the information is on the WDFW website. Here is a sample like for info on skunks.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/skunks.html

I don't see the sections on weasels/minks online unfortunately. It did say that mink will occasionally exhibit surplus killing behavior, killing more than they can possibly eat.


You have to decide what is best for your situation, but I hope you find an alternate solution to returning the ducks to the shelter.

 

[veronicasmom]

Thanks MissLydia and Newby.
I want with my whole heart and soul to keep my ducks. I cannot imagine my life without them. Right now I am going to keep hoping said mink gets captured and dispatched. Then I will rethink everything. Right now I am keeping them in as much as possible. Hubby is home today to I went out to do errands and he was home so they were outside a lot.
We did try to make a wonderful spot for them, and we succeeded. 10 years and no problem, so maybe if this creature is taken care of, we will be ok for another ten.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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