Catching Mink - any tips

[nod 285]

Was that the only out come of your study, that if you see prints in the clay you put a trap in, so if you found tracks in your clay but there was no food for the mink in that area do you think he is going to come back,

[Lab 10,979]

Was that the only out come of your study, that if you see prints in the clay you put a trap in, so if you found tracks in your clay but there was no food for the mink in that area do you think he is going to come back,

I'd imagine the study was done where mink probably would be present....for example a good food source available. I dont think they set the rafts on the water fountains on the high street.

[Bunny Boiler 177]

Was that the only out come of your study, that if you see prints in the clay you put a trap in, so if you found tracks in your clay but there was no food for the mink in that area do you think he is going to come back,

I'd imagine the study was done where mink probably would be present....for example a good food source available. I dont think they set the rafts on the water fountains on the high street.

Amen. I see someone has a little bit of outward thinking. The study was set on the river Severn, just up from Gloucester. Not only were Fenns introduced for humane dispatch, we also placed live catch traps down for live examination. The study was on behaviour, and effective methods of control. So, best places to set traps, best trap to use, best bait, etc.

 

Although all baits are pretty good, someone did suggest Sardines in Olive Oil. This is one of the better to be honest, and Fenns are also one of the best methods. It did come back as being debatable about whether Fenns in a raft were as good as those on land, as the results were similar in catch rate. All of the Fenns were Mk 6.

 

Hope this sheds some light and clears up any confusion.

 

Atb, Bunny.

[MOO 730]

so who funded this study and what factors led you to find that mk6 fenns were the best trap and sardines in olive oil were the favoured bait ?

[The one 8,504]

Thought we had something similar done in Scotland but it was a waste of time as the jobs went to mates of mates and it was worked out to cost thousands for each mink killed ?.

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Although all baits are pretty good, someone did suggest Sardines in Olive Oil. This is one of the better to be honest

 

I've also heard that smoked kippers are good in the warmer months, but I've not used them so can't confirm that. They're supposedly less prone to fly strike.

[Bunny Boiler 177]

so who funded this study and what factors led you to find that mk6 fenns were the best trap and sardines in olive oil were the favoured bait ?

It's a study done though Hartpury college and UWE. It wasn't huge... It only spanned about 5 months, with a groups of 25 of different traps... e.g 25 Fenns, 25 Kania's, 25 live catch traps etc. Why are you getting so hung up? All I'm saying is that rafts can be used to trap.

 

Atb, Bunny.

[Gilliers 30]

I trap mink with conibear 120 traps. Most important is to use fresh bait, rabbithead with some fur is best for my experience.

[trenchfoot 4,243]

No mink as yet, but have caught a bucket load of rats. I know these are the culprits for the loss of the clutch of moorhens eggs a few weeks back. Have had a busted foot for the last 2 weeks so had the wife pull the traps till I am able to get round them.

 

The mink are still knocking about as I have found fresh tracks on the waters edge. However since the canadian geese have nested and hatched on the pond, the loss of newly hatched young has reduced. Not sure if they are connected, but it would be one brave mink to tackle those buggers. The gander took umbridge with me grass cutting and nearly had me off the tractor.

[kenny14 656]

Was that the only out come of your study, that if you see prints in the clay you put a trap in, so if you found tracks in your clay but there was no food for the mink in that area do you think he is going to come back,

I'd imagine the study was done where mink probably would be present....for example a good food source available. I dont think they set the rafts on the water fountains on the high street.

Amen. I see someone has a little bit of outward thinking. The study was set on the river Severn, just up from Gloucester. Not only were Fenns introduced for humane dispatch, we also placed live catch traps down for live examination. The study was on behaviour, and effective methods of control. So, best places to set traps, best trap to use, best bait, etc.

 

Although all baits are pretty good, someone did suggest Sardines in Olive Oil. This is one of the better to be honest, and Fenns are also one of the best methods. It did come back as being debatable about whether Fenns in a raft were as good as those on land, as the results were similar in catch rate. All of the Fenns were Mk 6.

 

Hope this sheds some light and clears up any confusion.

 

Atb, Bunny.

 

I'd be interested to know who advised you to use fenns or any type of trap other than live catch on a Mink raft, especially on a water course known to have Otters and Water Voles!

:doh:

Sounds like another case of well educated 'experts' from colleges and universities, who don't even bother to check up on best practice guidelines because they think they know it all

Edited May 29, 2012 by kenny14

[Rhodey 96]

Ive trapped a fair few mink on the fishing pools were I keeper, I've found the best bait to be mackeral or fish heads from supermarket they give them you free if you ask. I've caught all mine in live squirrel traps, apart from one big dog mink which was in my fox trap. More humane in the squirrel traps as they have less room to move when shooting them, in the fox traps they run round like mad. hope this helps. Once last thing i bury my traps in the floor and cover the top with a piece of wood and soil so the only way they can get at it is to go in the entrance.

[trenchfoot 4,243]

Got one of the buggers. Despite various baits in cage traps they only caught rats so far. This was a bitch (?) mink, caught in a fenn mk4 set for rats in a tunnel in the chicken run.

 

I'll keep going and hopefully have enough to make my vegi wife a home grown mink coat!

 

Cheers,

 

Yorkie

[trenchfoot 4,243]

looks like the wife will get her coat sooner rather than later. The one I caught over night had recently being suckling young. I heard a commotion from the chicken run this morning after I had let the birds out and found one of her brood mooching around in the run. Poor wee sod looked a bit confused. I ended up poking it out from under a dusting shelter and giving it a shoe-ing.

 

Every spare trap I have is now in situ around and in the runs. rechecked the electric wire. The place looks like Guantanamo Bay.

[logun 91]

dont any one snare mink these days ?

[trenchfoot 4,243]

Another one down! Dog's come in this morning. Found two lurchers eating half each in middle of the lawn. No emptied traps, so it must have been buffet mink!