Mink problems

[coasty]

What are the legalities and how do you go about getting a license to trap and dispose of mink, The river I fish seems to have a population thats exploding dont see Voles anymore but some members have still recorded sightings. The Otters seem to do ok but im sure the mink are murdering the native crays and the waterbirds.

What with Giant Hogweed growing like palm trees , Himalayan balsam and the mink theres so much pressure on the natural species, Something needs to be done.

Would like to be able to discuss at the next commitee meeting in new year the way forward for the mink and could do with some advise..

Are there any grants available ? The river is listed as having the following species:

Sea Trout, River Lamprey, Sea Lamprey, Brook Lamprey. In the local biodiversity action plan

Also water voles and Otters.

Any advise would be welcome

Andy

[RobinP]

Some useful info on here: Wildlife Management and Licensing: Advisory leaflets - Natural England

[nye24]

Originally Posted by coasty

What are the legalities and how do you go about getting a license to trap and dispose of mink, The river I fish seems to have a population thats exploding dont see Voles anymore but some members have still recorded sightings. The Otters seem to do ok but im sure the mink are murdering the native crays and the waterbirds.

What with Giant Hogweed growing like palm trees , Himalayan balsam and the mink theres so much pressure on the natural species, Something needs to be done.

Would like to be able to discuss at the next commitee meeting in new year the way forward for the mink and could do with some advise..

Are there any grants available ? The river is listed as having the following species:

Sea Trout, River Lamprey, Sea Lamprey, Brook Lamprey. In the local biodiversity action plan

Also water voles and Otters.

Any advise would be welcome

Andy

Log on to the basc web site,you will find all the info you require on mink on there.Failing that try the game conservancy web site

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I would also add trying the yorkshire wildlife trust Home :: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust They may have a rivers project officer or a water vole projects officer who would be able either assist or point you in the right direction. Mink rafts seem to vary between £35 and £60, although you can build your own and then you'll need the trap itself.

Good luck and I hope you get some backing.

BWD

[vole-woman]

Excellent adivce so far from others. I'll just add that as far as I'm aware, you don't need a licence to trap and kill mink. I know it's illegal to release them, though, because of the terrible damage they do.

I really hope you manage to sort them, coasty. Acting without delay is best, especially during the spring, summer and early autumn.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Excellent adivce so far from others. I'll just add that as far as I'm aware, you don't need a licence to trap and kill mink. I know it's illegal to release them, though, because of the terrible damage they do.

I really hope you manage to sort them, coasty. Acting without delay is best, especially during the spring, summer and early autumn.

Thats correct - you do however need to be acting as an agent of the landowner (or in the case of rivers whoever has the riparian rights - also be aware that further issies apply if the river is navigable, in that case you would need an ea licence to float or moor anything which might obstruct navigation)

and some expert advice on setting the traps wouldnt go amiss , especially if you havent done it before.

You could use Mk IV fenns set in tunnels (to stop them catching birds etc) but i favour using a non lethal cage trap and then shooting the mink - enabling you to release anything else caught by accident.

Its also possible to forgoe trapping and just shoot the blighters but you do need either a shotgun, a.22 rimfire , or a FAC rated Air rifle ( I generally use a 25ftlb theoben rapid .25) as legal limit airguns wont guarantee a clean kill with mink.

and finally if there are any number of otters on the river they might sort the mink for you - they tend to kill them as they are both a competitor for food and a threat to their kitts.

[Meta menardi]

As you mention, a number of BAP species are involved. What about the local authority Countryside Officer?

[Hobjob]

A mink trapper I was chatting to said that he found rotting wood-pigeon the best bait.

You also need to think about how you are going to kill the beasties - the bloke above uses a twelve bore!

[vole-woman]

http://www.gct.org.uk/uploads/minkrafthighres.pdf

Info here about what kind of traps to use, where best to site, how to dispatch the mink etc. Smoked fish seems to go down well - I suppose, like the rotting pigeon, it smeels strongly.

If you do set a trap, you MUST check it at least once a day, preferably twice.

[coasty]

Thanks for all the good advise. Its a club water with a very small membership ( 25 members ) most of whom arent really bothered about the wildlife . I want to have some thought through proposals ready for the AGM. Trapping and killing would be down to me and maybe another member. Trap inspection isnt an issue I live half a mile from the river but daylight hours are.

As for otters we have one resident female who breeds regularly but the mink seem to be getting pretty thick on the ground all the same. I am sure she would appreciate some help sorting the mink out.

As for water vole, They used to be common but I havent seen one for a year or two. But the river has a couple of feeder streams that although only small run for miles and if they can survive anywhere it will be in them.

Thanks again

Andy