Mink food ?

[Blackbrook Eye]

Well, here goes, I was on one of my regular visits to Blackbrook reservoir on Thursday this week and upon reaching the bridge noticed a mink swimming below me at a fair rate of knots, the mink is not up for question as it is pretty obvious but what is it carrying in its mouth, it looks to me like a large crayfish, quite possibly a ‘signal’ as they abound in the area, however the colour is strange, as though it has been shelled. Has anyone got any other suggestion as to its identity or any knowledge of mink shelling prey before carrying it off.



Keith

[The Woodman]

Yes, I've wached a mink fish for native Crayfish around a weir on the River Mint near Kendal. When it had caught one, it took it to the wall of the weir and stripped it of carapace and legs before dissapearing under the stonework, either to eat it, store it or feed young. I had a look at the carapaces and all had puncture holes in them from the canines of the mink.

Some years ago I watched a mink at close quarters on a small river in Cheshire. It repeatedly entered the water and caught a variety of food from Sticklebacks to a small green Crab Apple which it ate!

Bits of Crayfish shells appear in Otter spraints regularly in this area, I've seen heron pellets comprised wholly of them too.

[Blackbrook Eye]

Thanks for the information Woodman, It seems quite likely that I was right for once, I will continue to watch out for any further signs of this activity but as there is no public access to the reservior I have to rely on very infrequent sightings during daylight hours when it is near to the footpath edge.

Keith