We think it's a mink...now what!?

[ChickenCanoe]

Where do you live?
It looks to big to be most species of weasels and the tail is too thick. The relationship of the tail to the body is similar to a mink but it is much larger than a mink.

I'm reminded more of a fisher or marten. Knowing where you live would narrow it down.

 

[newsleet]

I'm in Ashtabula county in NE Ohio

 

[hayley3]

@newsleet
Were your hens killed on the spot or carried off?

 

[newsleet]

They were carried off, I found them in the fenced in run

 

[hayley3]

Four of mine were never found , so I'm thinking a fox but was wondering if mink/weasels carried off the birds or left them there. Cause the next day something crawled in a stall and drug out a guinea. Seemed too narrow for a fox but who knows.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm in Ashtabula county in NE Ohio

You're in the historic range of the fisher and marten. Fishers are now making a comeback in Ohio and martens are likely to as well.

Four of mine were never found , so I'm thinking a fox but was wondering if mink/weasels carried off the birds or left them there. Cause the next day something crawled in a stall and drug out a guinea. Seemed too narrow for a fox but who knows.

Sounds like a raccoon to me.

Mink and weasels usually just kill without eating much meat and don't carry them off.

 

[hayley3]

My birds were free ranging so whatever it was had to be very fast. Mink, fox, dog or coyote are my choices. Cause whatever it was, jumped back and forth over a 7ft cattle panel/fence killing the birds that were smart enough to escape.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Raccoons can climb virtually anything. Not many dogs nor coyotes can jump a 7' fence. Fox can though. A mink wouldn't have to jump since it can squeeze through a 1" opening.

 

[newsleet]

This one won"t be back for more

 

[hayley3]

I'd be terrified if I had to deal with mink. Raccoons are bad enough.
Good that you got this one.