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

[MysticScorpio82]

Quote:
Yes ignore the post, he has been banned anyway because all he has done since he got here is troll.

 

[taraann81]

Trolling? You mean attempting to get people worked up? I must say that is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard and needn't even be responded too. Anyways. You can't live trap a mink, or at least it is very hars to do. I don't have a gun or know anybody that does and I can't really afford to hire a trapper. Darn mink. I'm not sure what to do.

 

[deerman]

Mink can be caught in live traps, I have. I used the dead chicken it kill as bait.

 

[mmwb]

They can be live trapped. Go with a smaller trap if you have one. If you have one with doors on both ends (Havahart sells some. Not the best trap, but will do), set it and cover the trap with cloth or the such. Leave the ends open and exposed. They are a curious animal and the tunnel effect may lead them to enter out of curiosity. Wire bait above the pan, as an extra incentive, so they have to work it a bit. I chicken head, chunk of liver, or such can be effective. Wiring the bait in place will keep them moving about in the trap and increase the likelihood of tripping the pan. A trap with a door on one end is okay. Set up the same way with both ends exposed.

You can often see trails in the taller grass along streams where they and other smaller animals travel. Set in the trail. or along the bank at the edge of the water. They are low on the food chain themselves, so will not spend much time out of the water where there is not cover. Raptors, foxes, other mink, etc... will take their toll.

Creating a trail out of the water can be effective as well. Stabilize that trap with rocks with one end facing the water, maybe 5 or 6 inches from the water. Slick up a trail (water and mud) to it from the water to the mouth of the trap. If it is grassy, create a trail or a few trails from the other end. You have a good chance of catching other animals as well: weasels, muskrats, skunks, etc... All can be released unharmed if desired.

I'm not sure if mink are really sensitive to wire, but you may want to cover the bottom with some grass or enough dirt to cover the wire, but not hinder the working of the trap. Some will glue a bit of carpet or thick cloth on the pan as well. Not necessary for coons, but some animals are more sensitive to the feel of an unnatural material like metal.

Just a few ideas...

 

[thomas h]

YOU sound experienced and easy to understand ..

thomas

 

[taraann81]

Welcome and thanks you. I hope I catch them. My ducks are getting upset being cooped up. I will try those ideas.

 

[taraann81]

HE STRUCK AGAIN.

I have had my ducks penned up while trying to deal with these mink.

Well my son accidently let them out today and they went right to the creek. He came to get me.

I went out there and was attempting to get them back on land by shaking the feed can. They were about 5 feet away from me in the water.

All of a sudden they freaked out and there was the mink. He came from underneath and I could see them rolling around. It had the poor duck killed in seconds.

It dragged it to the side of the creek(all this time I'm screaming and throwing stones and sticks at it and its mere feet away and still its pulling the duck to the side of the creek)

Well DH comes up with a HUGE stick(more like a log actually) and throws it like a spear and it hits the mink( wow what a smell).

The mink drops the duck and runs into a hole in the ditch bank.

I'm standing there and he pokes his head out and looks at me, I yell "I'm going to kill you you little F&%#er"( I don't usually swear but my adrenaline was pumping)

Anyways he ducked back in the hole.

I got the poor duck out of the water and it has two puncture wounds on its head. I baited a live trap with poor ducky and put it back where minky last had him.


In front of the hole he went in, I set two, I'm not sure what they are called but they snap, I think the type of trap starts with a C.

Anyways heres hoping I have the little bug in the morning!

 

[deerman]

good luck, heck if you know where his hole is, should be easy to trap.

 

[taraann81]

Quote:
Thanks deerman I hope so, but I am not sure if this was just a hidey hole he ran in because it was close or if he actually lives there. Also it is in a pile of rocks, who knows how many entrances and exits he has. I wish I could afford to just have somebody come and remove them for me.

 

[thomas h]

Sounds like your going to get them.
If they are like a weasel they will kill everything this fall.

THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FUR PRICES DROP> THE ANIMALS TAKE OVER>

THOMAS