Otter type mammal in stream. what was it?

[vole-woman]

I think a lot of the mink farmers themselves also let animals go, either because they were incompetent or they were closing the farms down. The government should never have allowed mink to be imported in the first place.

[demicav]

It's sad that mink have devastated water vole populations, but they're making a comeback. We have water voles not far from here and weasels, which also prey on voles but don't cause the same devastation as mink. ( bit of a mouthful that ).

[thunder]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

I think a lot of the mink farmers themselves also let animals go, either because they were incompetent or they were closing the farms down.

Yes, that's true - Mink were well established in the wild in Britain long before the animals 'rights' people ever started releasing them.

henrya

[werdnal]

I would say definately sounds like a mink - especially when you say it seemed quite tame. Otters are very elusive creatures and would see or hear you long before you knew they were there.

We saw a mink once in the New Forest. We were at a fairly popular deer hide, and there were several people around. The mink had obviously got used to scavenging for scraps, and was actually running over people's feet and took no notice of anyone. They are smaller than otters - more like a ferret in size, and usually dark coloured, when otters are more red/brown.

[honeybee]

Let's not start another debate over mink, it's been done enough before...The reason for the thread is to try and identify an animal.

Contact your local wildlife trust to say you may have seen one.Even the Environment agency can help. If mink are there they will should be trapped and as humanely as possible, killed.

p.s as for appearing tame, they're quite curious creatures and not scared easily but it is possible it's something else.

[fatnbald]

Originally Posted by demicav

Could have been Mink and if it was I don't think it would have given you just a friendly lick. I think they are spreading to most areas now, we have them not far from here. I've heard they don't have any natural predators in the wild ( only man of course ) which is why they're causing so many problems. They would be fine in their home land but not here.

Excuse my ignorance , but where did we import them from originally?

[demicav]

Originally Posted by fatnbald

Excuse my ignorance , but where did we import them from originally?

They originate in North America.