Is this mink spraint?

[vole-woman]

Is this mink spraint, do you think? I found it under a bridge where previously I've found otter spraint.

[Tracey.A]

I can only guess, as I'm not really sure, but I'd go with mink spraint. Apparently, according to my trusty book they are very similar to polecat droppings, but the latter have a very sour and unpleasant smell. Did you smell the dropping? Size of mink droppings are 6 - 8 cm long and 9 mm thick.

Tracey

[nye24]

I would say it was myself,i keep ferrets there droppings are very similar,and been as you found it by a water course that kind of narrows it down to,that one does not appear to look very fresh,as you can see it has dried up,when there fresh they look quite oily and have a very sour smell to them.

[vole-woman]

Thanks. It was dried up and didn't smell much of anything. Really hoping, if it is mink, the animal's passed by (I think they disperse about this time?). There are water voles in that stretch, and I still found feeding signs nearby.

[nye24]

It might be worth getting in touch with the landowner or someone who belongs to the water course,because the water voles won't be there for long with mink in the area i can guarantee you that

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Hi Kate,
It could be mink, but I do hope not, I would have thought that it would still smell rancid if it was mink, that stuff really stinks and even old and dried up spraint will smell bad when it is broken open.

BWD

[Dogghound]

Yes they do have a strong smell due to the anal glands, The size looks rite although possibly a small otter, the thing that makes me think more towards an otter is the fact is not heavily twisted which is usually a good way of telling the two apart as well as smell. Have you broken the spraint up? Juvenile mink do disperse from about mid august onwards. Eitherway they do both take water voles, although more so in the minks case. What ever this is by the looks of the fur in it has a fairly terrestrial diet.

[vole-woman]

Thanks, all. I'll go back tomorrow and see if I can find any more, and also have a word with my friend about trapping.

[vole-woman]

Here's some more. Again, there's no smell at all, even when you break it open, but I suspect it's very old. Inside it seems to be dust and fur. I can't see any fresh scat at all. Might it be an itinerent mink that's passed on by? Because if the scat's very old but there are still water voles...

Any advice gratefully received. Meanwhile I've emailed the mammal recorder for Cheshire, and my friends in the local widlife group.

[shirl]

Interesting one, I would say that because there is a fur content the old scat is more likely to be mink, you would still be able to see bits of fish scale & bones in otter spraint. However it isn't the usual "twisted" shape of mink poo so I can't be sure. Fingers crossed if it is mink - it's gone! Good idea to report it though even if it turns out to be otter. We have had mink tracks on one of the rafts by the canal 2 weeks ago, so you just can't be too careful.


Shirl