Otter, mink or weasel attack!!!

[Uppity Peon]

My parents live in the Goldendale area. I have seen a weasel at their place. Weasels are very common and notorious for killing chickens and biting the heads off. This would be my first suspect.
http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Mammal/Long-tailed-Weasel/Mustela/frenata.html

A mink is a possibility in that area I suppose. They are semi-aquatic.
http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Mammal/American-Mink/Mustela/vison.html

And an otter is not impossible in the Wenatchee area although I never heard of them raiding chicken coops before.
http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Mammal/Northern-River-Otter/Lontra/canadensis.html

Whatever the case you need to trap it and kill it. Ask at the local farm store in your area.

 

[Judy4222]

An otter showed up in my pond and killed one of my chickens. My son got the gun and shot at it and it took off hopefully it won't come back. My ducks refused to go in the pond. I knew something was up.

 

[Leisar]

I am looking at a river otter on my Missouri pond right now and I don't know if they will kill chickens, but I'm pretty sure one killed my beloved goose two years ago out in the middle of my pond. Muskrats destroy pond banks and dams, but are vegetarians. We also have mink and weasels.

 

[Don P]

Got an Otter in my pond in Renton, Wa. Here is a pic of one eating a chicken, you can google it and see the whole video

 

[cmom]

 

[wiltonginger]

I came to this post because I just had an otter take one of my chickens. So don't let anyone think that couldn't have happened. Differences between mink, weasal and otter...the way they move, they slinky kind of, up and down as they walk, they are more cat or bigger sized...mink and weasal are smaller. An otter will also take the entire chicken instead of just the head/neck, off/suck the blood.