Minks and Weasels

[WthrLady]

all spray smells for a while if it is sprayed. If it is just the lingering odor on the animal it passes fairly quickly as the animal crosses the yard.

Skunk has a burning tar/blacktop smell with hints of sulfur.
Fox is almost the same smell with a stronger sweet sick odor with a hint of bitter.

Mink is more musky urine smelling.

 

[llombardo]

I know the second one was not a skunk. Can't say for sure what it was either. All I know is that it was stronger and different then skunk, woke me up and was gone by the time I got out there. I would have to say it wasn't in the yard either because at the very least the dogs would have barked, more like go nuts and they were out there that night. The time before it(very similar smell), it came from the front of the house--that was for sure an animal passing through.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Is it like a burnt smell? Like rubber maybe?

not sure how to explain the smell besides for the fact it burns the nose its so strong and potent.

 

[Howard E]

I never considered minks in the area, but the sounds and smells are telling me different. It just moved rocks from (the?) 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.

OP.....trying to decipher what you intended to say was a puzzle, but I think I have it right. Something moved rocks along your fence to get out. Or at least moved them. Perhaps while digging through them to get at what was living under them?

That might well be a weasel, or skunk or a lot of things. But the important takeaway is if you have rodents living in a pile of rocks, that alone may be what attracts a weasel to your property. Literature from most Fish and Game agencies will tell you that something like 95% plus of what a weasel eats is furry rodents. In that, they are one of nature's most potent weapons against them. So they are always on the hunt for large concentrations of rodents. But they are also opportunistic and can transition to killing your birds as easy as killing rodents. Makes no difference to them. Killing stuff is what they are programmed to do.

With rats and mice, our chickens and any spilt chicken feed attracts the rodents, which then attracts the predators like weasels and skunks (I've heard that skunks are better mousers than cats are).

So the takeaway is to keep a sharp eye out for these rodents. Chipmunks in the rocks, and rats and mice in the chicken house. If you see em, get rid of em. It's these rodents that will attract the notice of a weasel and you don't want that.

 

[llombardo]

OP.....trying to decipher what you intended to say was a puzzle, but I think I have it right. Something moved rocks along your fence to get out. Or at least moved them. Perhaps while digging through them to get at what was living under them?

That might well be a weasel, or skunk or a lot of things. But the important takeaway is if you have rodents living in a pile of rocks, that alone may be what attracts a weasel to your property. Literature from most Fish and Game agencies will tell you that something like 95% plus of what a weasel eats is furry rodents. In that, they are one of nature's most potent weapons against them. So they are always on the hunt for large concentrations of rodents. But they are also opportunistic and can transition to killing your birds as easy as killing rodents. Makes no difference to them. Killing stuff is what they are programmed to do.

With rats and mice, our chickens and any spilt chicken feed attracts the rodents, which then attracts the predators like weasels and skunks (I've heard that skunks are better mousers than cats are).

So the takeaway is to keep a sharp eye out for these rodents. Chipmunks in the rocks, and rats and mice in the chicken house. If you see em, get rid of em. It's these rodents that will attract the notice of a weasel and you don't want that.

Yes on all of this. The feral cats have taken care of the chipmunks. The area that was dug was rocks around a perimeter--not a pile technically. From the squirrel activity I am seeing--I'm leaning toward a squirrel on that now. I think the squirrels are visiting the chickens daily on the top(netted) this deduction is based on my findings of walnuts on top. I've concluded that they are bringing the walnuts over. The last couple years they were burying them in the yard and the dogs kept UN-burying them.

As far as mice. I'm sure they are around. I haven't saw one of those in a long time though. No rats though. Not sure how long the mice would survive. I have a couple garter snakes living in the yard. One is huge and hangs around the chicken coop/run area. I'm quite sure he ate all my little frogs and is taking care of any mice. I have not made a move to remove him because I think he is beneficial. Not to mention super fast.

I now have 7 toads in an aquarium because I didn't want Mr Snake to eat them. I love toads.

I also believe that I read that mink will eat weasels, not sure how true that is?