Help with mink

[vole-woman]

I've just come back from checking a water vole colony near me and found evidence of mink.

Obviously I'm keen to act as quickly as possible to save the voles while they're still there, and I've reported the news to my local wildlife trust (though they're closed till Monday).

Has anyone any experience of working with a WT to get rid of mink - or with any other organization, eg the BASC - and if so, have you any tips? My big fear (and I hope it's entirely unfounded) is that the WT will dither, or be too busy to deal with the situation for a few weeks, and that it'll all be too late for the voles.

[demicav]

I'm sorry I can't be of any help really but I do hope it gets sorted soon and the Voles don't suffer too much. Keep us posted.

[wildliferescuer]

You could use a humane trap to catch them & make sure it is mink & then deal with them humanely once caught.

[Dogghound]

They do pose a threat, but i wouldnt worry to much they wont wipe out the voles over night. It takes time, also the bigger impact on water voles was habitat loss mink came at the wrong time and hit the decreasing population.So hopefully you will have time to overcome the problem but im afraid they will be back so keep an eye out.

[vole-woman]

Thanks. I've had a chat with the WT and I'm waiting to see how they proceed.

[shirl]

Hi there

The normal procedure (in our Wildlife trust) is when there are any mink sightings a mink raft is put in the area, the raft has a clay pad on the bottom and mink (amongst other species) are quite inquisitive and will walk onto the clay pad so you can positively id them. We have specialist "wardens" who can live trap mink so I am sure your local wildlife trust will have them too. Better to deal with them now rather than wait until the mink youngsters emerge in about August time - that really is a dangerous time for water voles.

Rest assured though that your wildlife trust will take any mink sightings seriously and act as quickly as possible, some WTs get help from local anglers who erect mink traps and monitor them. Fingers crossed for a successful result.

Shirl

[vole-woman]

We've got rafts in place, but it's looking as though there's no one immediately available to set traps. The man I was talking to this morning talked about putting a piece in the next BASC magazine which goes out in 2 months' time asking for help. But he did concede that might be too late. I had a horrible feeling it might be like this: that actually finding someone to remove the mink would prove a sticking point.

Better to deal with them now rather than wait until the mink youngsters emerge in about August time - that really is a dangerous time for water voles.

- I totally agree, Shirl, but this chap was saying some people felt it wasn't fair to remove female mink during the breeding season because then the babies would die. While I can see that's rotten, how is it pest control if we're allowing mink to breed??? I'm really worried about that comment.

Anyway, I'll post what happens.

[mrs fish]

When I reported seeing a mink in the same location I had seen wv's the WT were quick to act and came and laid a trap/traps, I know my LNR and could see where people had trampled reeds down to get to the ditch.

I'm sure they caught one as I heard a noise from the bush where the trap was, I didn't dare go and look

Your WT will get straight on to it I'm sure but I don't think they are allowed to tell the public what they do or don't trap, I don't know this for certain and would be interested to know what happens vole woman

[shirl]

Fingers crossed something can be done, it is a dilema really but when you are committed to protecting something (especially something at risk) then choices have to be made.The water voles have suffered so badly, firstly I suspect from habitat degradation and fragmentation and then came the mink. Such a shame that mink were released into the wild (not that I support mink farming because I do not); water voles evolved with natural predators but the mink are just so good at getting everywhere on land and in the water, they really are voracious predators.

Shirl

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Gosh this bad news Kate. There must be someone in your local area that has a .22 rifle licence. I would have thought that the WT might have contact details of local landowners/game keepers that could help.
What mink signs have you seen? Is this the first time you've had mink? I wonder what has bought them to your area.

Good luck it would be disastrous if the mink wiped out your water voles

BWD