Wild Mink And Ferreting

[forest of dean redneck 11,531]

Funny enough was thinking about mink when I was coming back from Cwmbran thursday,I seen a dead polecatn on the dual carriageway near Monmouth,

I have never seen roadkill mink there.

[onthehunt 40]

 

 

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

Well said mate!

 

Why don't you shut the f**k up you f*****g numpty !!

 

The great pretender !!

 

Relax mate, no need to get nasty Think Minkenry has dug himself a big hole

[Huan72 687]

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

Minkenry, what you done with Mink is amazing but they do cause a problem over here, like any introduced predator that evolved out of the ecosystem they are living in, they obviously have some traits that evolved elsewhere and that have given them some advantages over some native species. Its the reason that the ferret is banned in some U.S. states, there is a concern that if they escaped and went feral they could have an impact on some U.S. native species. Also remember that in the U.K. there are few predators that would even consider taking on a mustelid of mink size. A mink farm in the south of England was raided by animal rights people many years ago and the mink released, they caused total devastation and spread out like wildfire. It took years to control numbers and only now are water voles being reintroduced to areas previously occupied by the mink. Having said that habitat destruction is obviously a big problem in our modern world! Mustelids are such effective predators that the introduction of any mustelid species into a non native habitat is almost bound to have a strong impact. Great work with the mink though

[Minkenry 1,044]

Ok, you love your mink fair enough, but don't presume to come here and tell people who spend a large part of their lives out and about in the countryside what damage mink do or don't do to the natural environment here where we live.. Most people on here would kill a mink stone dead as soon as look at it, and with good reason.. I like most things American, but the trait that some of you possess that compels you to dictate what's what to everyone else in the world ain't one of them..

 

 

Hey, I'm not the one who said the mink don't really damage the vole population, it was multiple scientists who have done multiple studies on the subject. All I did was read their studies Also I never said the mink didn't do damage, all I said was they don't have a significant effect on water vole populations LOL

[Minkenry 1,044]

Minkenry, you talk some shit. Areas with high populations of mink have next to f**k all water voles in this country. Our native water voles are having the arse knocked out of them by the invasive American Mink.

 

Show me one study that confirms this. I've never read one. Not one. If what you say is true, it should be easy enough to prove with a study that confirms your views

[Born Hunter 17,751]

I just showed you two....

 

Just google it!

[TOMO 26,010]

Mink live in rabbit burrows,, and eat rabbits...........

 

Come on fella ,, get with the program..

[Minkenry 1,044]

 

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

are you for real mate .or just on a wind up .mink hunt relentlessy and kill relentlessly they will wipe out local bird populations kingfishers dippers coots ducks martens doves pigeons in fact every thing that lives on the rivers and streams etc and surrounding areas .the only good mink is a dead one .and glad to say theres some cracking mink packs in wales now and they are getting increased support and more followers now .plus local river authorities etc are starting to do a lot to try and eradicate them

 

 

Ok, this is a perfect example of what I was joking about in my first post on this group when I said, "I know most Europeans hate mink with a passion and blame everything on them from global warming to the reason their wife cheated on them." What have you been smoking mate? You really think a mink can catch doves and pigeons enough to hurt their population???? Wow! That's all I have to say is WOW. I can already see that arguing with you will be completely useless as you apparently believe mink can fly. A mink would be EXTREMELY lucky to catch a bird like a dove or pigeon, though I have no doubt it has happened before. A catch like that would happen maybe two or three times in a mink's ENTIRE LIFETIME. As for ducks, I can attest that they can catch ducks. My mink have caught a total of 2 duck out of all the time I've spent hunting. Yes a whole 2 ducks. I totally understand everyone and the water vole thing. Yes mink actually eat water voles on a regular basis. Wild ducks I can kind of understand as they do occasionally eat ducks. Pigeons and doves, man you are just HILARIOUS.

[Minkenry 1,044]

Lots of mink by me, they wiped my Dad's mates loft of racers out, 400 metres from the river the loft was. The ducks take a real hammering off them when they got ducklings here, the Dippers are almost gone too and ain't seen a Kingfisher in a while.

 

Make no bones about it Mink are evil vermin and should be treated as such.

 

Peace out !!

 

Sorry to hear about the pigeons. That sucks bad! I've had several falconer buddies loose thousands and thousands of dollars worth of falcons in one night when a mink got in their mews

 

Here's anther example though where every time an animal disappears (The ducks take a real hammering off them when they got ducklings here, the Dippers are almost gone too and ain't seen a Kingfisher in a while.) the mink is automatically blamed with out any real proof. It's quite funny how every thing is the mink's fault. I'll tell you guys, mink really aren't very good at killing birds. Except for maybe sea birds who nest on the ground or something like that, mink just aren't very good bird hunters. We have PLENTY of marsh birds out here in the U.S. and many many MANY more mink.

[Hot Meat 3,109]

so mink dont raid nests, taking eggs and ybs, think about it pal youre nothing but deluded, we aint telling you whats what in your back yard, dont try and tell us whats happening in ours lol if it was a dog you had and not a mink id call you kennelblind, instead ill call you deluded lol away and stroke your vermin

[Minkenry 1,044]

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000632079090031J

 

 

This study explores mink-water vole interactions on five of the principal rivers in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, in an area where mink are still spreading. It uses a variety of techniques—tracking (field signs), trapping and radio-tracking—at a range of 38 sites that differed in average water vole and mink abundances over two years, in conjunction with a longer term four-year study at one site on the river Esk under active colonisation by mink.

 

The overall conclusion is unavoidable. Mink pose a serious threat to the long-term survival of water vole populations, at least in the North Yorkshire Moors study area.

 

 

I stand corrected sir. I retract my comment on the water voles on the grounds that there are now conflicting results. I have read the works of several so called experts on the subject who claim the mink's effect on the water vole is negligible. This is the first study I've read that says otherwise. I choose to remain neutral since it now appears to me there are conflicting results.

 

By the way, I never once said that having mink in your country is a good thing, or that they don't cause damage. This has never been my believe and has never been my point. My point has always been that the mink gets blamed for everything that goes wrong in your country, regardless of the facts. Like the silly guy who thinks mink can wipe out pigeons LOL

[fitchet 788]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

are you for real mate .or just on a wind up .mink hunt relentlessy and kill relentlessly they will wipe out local bird populations kingfishers dippers coots ducks martens doves pigeons in fact every thing that lives on the rivers and streams etc and surrounding areas .the only good mink is a dead one .and glad to say theres some cracking mink packs in wales now and they are getting increased support and more followers now .plus local river authorities etc are starting to do a lot to try and eradicate them

Ok, this is a perfect example of what I was joking about in my first post on this group when I said, "I know most Europeans hate mink with a passion and blame everything on them from global warming to the reason their wife cheated on them." What have you been smoking mate? You really think a mink can catch doves and pigeons enough to hurt their population???? Wow! That's all I have to say is WOW. I can already see that arguing with you will be completely useless as you apparently believe mink can fly. A mink would be EXTREMELY lucky to catch a bird like a dove or pigeon, though I have no doubt it has happened before. A catch like that would happen maybe two or three times in a mink's ENTIRE LIFETIME. As for ducks, I can attest that they can catch ducks. My mink have caught a total of 2 duck out of all the time I've spent hunting. Yes a whole 2 ducks. I totally understand everyone and the water vole thing. Yes mink actually eat water voles on a regular basis. Wild ducks I can kind of understand as they do occasionally eat ducks. Pigeons and doves, man you are just HILARIOUS.

But they can eat eggs of said doves and pigeons. I'm not too concerned about that but what does concern Is the damage they cause to young pheasants domestic pigeons fish stocks moorhens coots and of course watervoles. When I was keepering if I saw a mink within range of the gun that I let go I would have probably lost my job. IMO they have no place in the uk. And the noise they make when in a cage is horrible as is the smell they leave on the dog after encounters .....

[GreyRake 108]

 

 

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

are you for real mate .or just on a wind up .mink hunt relentlessy and kill relentlessly they will wipe out local bird populations kingfishers dippers coots ducks martens doves pigeons in fact every thing that lives on the rivers and streams etc and surrounding areas .the only good mink is a dead one .and glad to say theres some cracking mink packs in wales now and they are getting increased support and more followers now .plus local river authorities etc are starting to do a lot to try and eradicate them

 

 

Ok, this is a perfect example of what I was joking about in my first post on this group when I said, "I know most Europeans hate mink with a passion and blame everything on them from global warming to the reason their wife cheated on them." What have you been smoking mate? You really think a mink can catch doves and pigeons enough to hurt their population???? Wow! That's all I have to say is WOW. I can already see that arguing with you will be completely useless as you apparently believe mink can fly. A mink would be EXTREMELY lucky to catch a bird like a dove or pigeon, though I have no doubt it has happened before. A catch like that would happen maybe two or three times in a mink's ENTIRE LIFETIME. As for ducks, I can attest that they can catch ducks. My mink have caught a total of 2 duck out of all the time I've spent hunting. Yes a whole 2 ducks. I totally understand everyone and the water vole thing. Yes mink actually eat water voles on a regular basis. Wild ducks I can kind of understand as they do occasionally eat ducks. Pigeons and doves, man you are just HILARIOUS.

 

They take the eggs\chicks.

Edited September 21, 2013 by GreyRake

[johnny boy68 11,726]

 

 

Lots of mink by me, they wiped my Dad's mates loft of racers out, 400 metres from the river the loft was. The ducks take a real hammering off them when they got ducklings here, the Dippers are almost gone too and ain't seen a Kingfisher in a while.

 

Make no bones about it Mink are evil vermin and should be treated as such.

 

Peace out !!

Sorry to hear about the pigeons. That sucks bad! I've had several falconer buddies loose thousands and thousands of dollars worth of falcons in one night when a mink got in their mews

 

Here's anther example though where every time an animal disappears (The ducks take a real hammering off them when they got ducklings here, the Dippers are almost gone too and ain't seen a Kingfisher in a while.) the mink is automatically blamed with out any real proof. It's quite funny how every thing is the mink's fault. I'll tell you guys, mink really aren't very good at killing birds. Except for maybe sea birds who nest on the ground or something like that, mink just aren't very good bird hunters. We have PLENTY of marsh birds out here in the U.S. and many many MANY more mink.

Another arrogant Yank.....I've seen them raiding the nests round here you fool, don't presume you have any idea of what's happening over here.

[Minkenry 1,044]

 

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

Minkenry, what you done with Mink is amazing but they do cause a problem over here, like any introduced predator that evolved out of the ecosystem they are living in, they obviously have some traits that evolved elsewhere and that have given them some advantages over some native species. Its the reason that the ferret is banned in some U.S. states, there is a concern that if they escaped and went feral they could have an impact on some U.S. native species. Also remember that in the U.K. there are few predators that would even consider taking on a mustelid of mink size. A mink farm in the south of England was raided by animal rights people many years ago and the mink released, they caused total devastation and spread out like wildfire. It took years to control numbers and only now are water voles being reintroduced to areas previously occupied by the mink. Having said that habitat destruction is obviously a big problem in our modern world! Mustelids are such effective predators that the introduction of any mustelid species into a non native habitat is almost bound to have a strong impact. Great work with the mink though

 

I totally agree that the mink doesn't belong in your country, and that its presence does cause problems. My point has always been that in your country mink a blamed for ridiculous things. Not that they are innocent and should be left alone. I have never said or believed that once. I just think it's silly that the mink gets blamed for all sorts of ridiculous things like driving out the otter and killing lambs (and yes I know of a guy that lost two lambs to a mink, my point is that you will loose 100,000 lambs to other things for every one lost to a mink).

 

Here's the thing. You have an even MORE dangerous alien predator among you that instead of persecuting and freaking out about, you feed and protect. It's called a house cat. The house cat kills more birds in a month than a mink will in two or three lifetimes! House cats pose a threat to countless numbers of wildlife, and yet no one is freaking out about them. Oh no, you feed and protect them. But the mink, oh he has to go. He killed my neighbors horse the other night. LOL

 

My point is not that mink don't cause problems. My point is that they have become a scapegoat that get's blamed for every creature that disappears from your countryside, while the deadly house cat get's blamed for nothing. Do I believe it would be better if mink never visited your country? Yes I do. Do I believe that if it were possible mink should be removed from your country now that they are there? Yes I do. Do I belive you will ever significantly effect the mink populations in your country with all your radical attepts to distroy them? No I don't. Do I believe mink are wiping out your ducks, pigeons, sparrows, deer, foxes, and whale populations, no I don't.

Edited September 21, 2013 by Minkenry