Is there anywhere you can buy mink rafts?

[vole-woman]

...she asked lazily. I've downloaded the instructions on how to make one from the Game Conservancy Council, but if there's a shortcut that doesn't involve me getting busy with a saw I'd prefer to take it. I don't want to use it for trapping, but I do want to be able to put a soft clay catridge inside to collect footprints.

I've Googled, and searched auction sites, but no luck so far. Any help appreciated.

[vole-woman]

Ignore that. I've just found somewhere.

Mink Trapping | The Mink Raft

(Spent ages looking the other night, and then up pops this link today. Weird!)

[Varan Komodosky]

Pardon my iggerance, but what is a mink raft and why, where and how would you want to use one?

[vole-woman]

They're small wooden rafts, tethered to the bank, with a little canopy or tunnel over the top to encourage wild animals to investigate. The floor of the tunnel is made of soft clay (reusable) to show footprints. The idea is you use the raft to ascertain what's living in a stream, mink or voles or whatever.

[Moon Whistler]

I would like to know what type clay is used in Mink Traps, and where to buy it from, as I need something just to determine what is in a given area.

I believe there has to a sand mixed with the clay possibly to prevent it being to sticky, but don't have a clue.

I'm not interested in the trapping side, and have no absolutely intent to kill, this is for survey purposes only.

Chris

[Dogghound]

I just use art clay in mine. The sort of thing they use in schools to make clay artifacts. I place a block into one of these clear take-away boxes and put it in the raft.

[vole-woman]

Forsham Cottage Arks sell a sand and clay mix. If you look after it and keep it moist, a tracking pad can last over a year.

[Jonathan]

For anyone interested in constructing a mink raft there is an instructional PDF by the Game Conservancy here:

http://www.gwct.org.uk/documents/gct...idelineslr.pdf

Cheers
Jonathan