The mink struck again! New plan, will it work?

[taraann81]

I free range my ducks and chickens and have never had a loss to predators. Well yesterday one of my pretty good size 6 week old Rouens disappeared. I looked every where for it. Well I couldn't find it.

Today Dh was outside and all the ducks came running up to him after a swim in the crick...hmmm one less rouen.


I went looking again. This time I found the missing rouen. Dead floating in the water up against the bank of the crick against some rocks. I stood there a min wondering how I could get the body out and guess what popped out of the rocks?

2 I am assuming not fully grown mink. I have never seen one in my life. But these things looked similar to the pet ferrets I had when I was a kid only solid black(or at least a very dark brown)


Now what do I do? How do you trap a mink family?

 

[MandyH]

Shotgun. I have never seen a mink before but if they are not protected, shoot them.

 

[taraann81]

I don't know if they are protected but I don't have a gun or know anybody with a gun.

 

[jqs birds]

I would be very suprised if Mink are protected in Canada!
You can put a conibear over thw hole and you will catch anything that tries to go in or come out of the hole. Best of all you won't need a gun cause it will be dead in the trap when you come back.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

First I would try to figure out what it is, and if it is a mink (as suspected) and you don't have the means to take care of it, then could you call animal control to come out and catch the mink and get rid of it?

 

[taraann81]

I researched it. It is a mink. I don't think animal control would get rid of it. I think I would have to hire a pest control/trapper company.

I set a live trap tonight. I will try to catch and release them.

 

[deerman]

PUT the dead duck in a live trap, near the creek. Only caught one, he was getting my chickens, use the dead chickem. he came back next night.

 

[taraann81]

The dead duck has already been disposed of. Do you think canned salmon would work?

 

[jqs birds]

Mink love fish so Salmon might work.
FInd a local trapper if possible he may come and take them out.

 

[taraann81]

I'm going to try this with the live trap first.

Do you think mink could take an adult scovy? I know they took my young ones but I wonder about my adults.

Also does anyone know if I move them will they come back? There is a nice wildlife reserve about 5 miles away. Is that far enough to move them?