Minks and Weasels

[llombardo]

So twice now I was woken up to a scent that I thought was skunk. We all know skunk spray smell can last a long time. So I was quite surprised on both occasions that when I went outside the smell was gone. How is that possible? Then I thought I was smelling things, but you really can't miss that smell. The second time a couple nights ago it was similar but different. I started doing research and found that minks can spray but I can't find how long the odor lingers for? Do weasels spray too? A few months ago I had a faint what I thought was skunk odor on the far side of run. I thought it was weird I could only smell it if I was up close.

Is it possible that a mink got shocked by the electric fence, sprayed and went away? I'm thinking I may need a second wire across the gate just in case. Per research mink are in all counties where I live. I have never saw one, but I have in the past heard an animal making noise and I couldn't place it. I googled mink sounds and it was darn close, so I'm going with they are here.

 

[Birdsong 82]

That is strange. I was unaware that weasels and minks sprayed also. If it is one of those two then I’m glad you have an electric fence. Is there anyway you can get a hold of some sort of game camera?

 

[cresent moon poultry]

set rat traps outside the run and bait them with chicken inerds or fresh rat/mouse

 

[townchicks]

I do know that pet ferrets are usually 'de-scented" because their scent glands are so pungent. Ferrets are in the weasel family, so I would think it is the same for them.

 

[llombardo]

I never considered minks in the area, but the sounds and smells are telling me different. I just moved rocks from me area along the fence. It is where chipmunks used to come in, but I have not saw them in a long time. In order for me to move the rocks it meant something was in the yard trying to go out.

I do have a game camera and a security camera system, but they are not up yet. I might get the game camera up tonite.

I also have my rabbits to worry about. They are in hutches within the pen.

Due to this I'm changing how I was going to make a new coop in the spring. I am going to go 16x16(instead of 5x8)so the rabbits are in the coop and safe.

I am concerned about the opening under the roof in the duck house, it is about 2 inches, so it looks like electric fence will be going up around house and coop and will be on at night.

 

[llombardo]

That is strange. I was unaware that weasels and minks sprayed also. If it is one of those two then I’m glad you have an electric fence. Is there anyway you can get a hold of some sort of game camera?

From what I'm reading it seems mink will eat the weasels and both will hunt rodents. So I'm not sure if both can be present without issues. It would be one or the other.

 

[roosterhavoc]

That skunk smell that’s really strong then dissipates fast is red fox urine.

 

[aart]

Huh!
I have woken to skunk stink outside my window in the middle of the night....
..next morning it's gone...unless skunk got hit on road(which is close and busy) then it takes weeks for it to go away.
Don't think a fox could get near my window due to fencing around yard.

 

[roosterhavoc]

If it smells like skunk its either a skunk or a red fox. I guarantee it.
Mink and weasel smell totally different.

 

[bobbi-j]

I think that skunks will sometimes carry their scent on themselves if they have sprayed. We have also awoken to skunk smell that dissipates quickly. I think it's just a skunk passing through. Skunks don't always smell, though. I had one in my attached garage one time that I would never have known about if I hadn't seen it. Mink have a musky smell of their own. When they've gotten into my coops I haven't noticed a lingering odor from them.