Advice For Mink Trapping

[Gravy 18]

Hi,

 

I am no expert in pest control and get my knowledge mainly from books.

Fairly happy with my squirrel trapping + the procull

 

A friend of mine has recently acquired a new property with 3 fairly large man-made fishing pools which link each other with a small overflow pipe.

 

He has seen evidence of fish scales on the banks in several places. He thinks Mink, as no river close by, I am yet to go and look for evidence such as foot prints/dropppings.

 

I have several live catch rabbit traps, which I hope will do the job?

 

Would like to ask about positioning - I read that mink can't resist searching a dark hole should I dig a hole in the bank to fit trap and cover?

Bait with fresh fish or tinned cat food, what is best?

 

There are also sheep in the field to keep grass down, so traps need to be sheep proof

 

Any thoughts and help would be greatly received

 

Gravy

[terryd 8,753]

I used to just sit the cage traps tight up against the bank and some times just cover the top with some thing. These were streams so the mink were constantly up and down and basically like roads for them. As you say they are very inquisitive and empty traps work but a bit of bait will all ways help

[toby63 1,236]

cover trap with vegitation place where you have seen signs and put bait at back of cage and mink will drag vegitation through for bedding

[Welsh_red 4,806]

I caught one in a mink raft before

[wilbur foxhound 480]

I don't know if mink can catch fish,they will certainly eat dead ones have a look round the shore especially at muddy parts for footprints just to make sure it's not an otter,if it's a mink bait the traps with gocat

[Squirrel_Basher 17,101]

As someone who's done a fair bit of trapping mink ,my main bait would be tins of pilchards .Traps need not be covered ,mink arnt usually trap shy but wise to cover for the two legged trap stealing vermin .Dig your trap in flat and peg it down with j hooks both sides .Dribble the oil from the pilchards along the bank to the trap .This time of year I put two traps back to back and have caught dog and bitch many times .Shoot your catches as they take several minutes to drown .Use the urine from a catch as a lure for next catch .Move traps frequently and set on sign .Good luck .

[Squirrel_Basher 17,101]

18 x 7 homemade from a pattern bought one .Mate folds the mesh at work on a press and stitches it with hog clips .I do the internal fitting with a treadle .Based on rat trap single catcher but bigger .All on loan at minute but I've one in my lock up I think .I'll post a pic .Used double ended treadles too but found them temperamental .Can't beat the smell of a fresh catch as you walk in .Years ago I was stupid enough to try to get one out alive which ended badly,blooded hand and a escaped catch .I used to do the trapping for our local angling club not long after mink first arrived here and caught a big silver dog that I gave away to a lad to be stuffed .The main color back then was black with white chest ,nowadays they are mostly brown with small blaze on chest .Otters seem to be displacing them here at a fair rate as I havnt seen sign for ages but plenty of their larger cousins .

[Gravy 18]

Thank you for your comments, will be starting at weekend, so let you know, if and when I catch my first ever mink - it`s exciting

[terryd 8,753]

and when you approach one brace your self for the screech and whiff

Edited April 6, 2017 by terryd

[EDDIE B 3,168]

Take a few pics of your set.

[Gravy 18]

As someone who's done a fair bit of trapping mink ,my main bait would be tins of pilchards .Traps need not be covered ,mink arnt usually trap shy but wise to cover for the two legged trap stealing vermin .Dig your trap in flat and peg it down with j hooks both sides .Dribble the oil from the pilchards along the bank to the trap .This time of year I put two traps back to back and have caught dog and bitch many times .Shoot your catches as they take several minutes to drown .Use the urine from a catch as a lure for next catch .Move traps frequently and set on sign .Good luck .

Would the same help with catching moles, rubbing the scent of a freshly caught mole on the traps?

[The one 8,533]

A L shaped tunnel into a bank with a mk6 fen and a handful of pigeon feathers just at the entrance works

[Gravy 18]

As someone who's done a fair bit of trapping mink ,my main bait would be tins of pilchards .Traps need not be covered ,mink arnt usually trap shy but wise to cover for the two legged trap stealing vermin .Dig your trap in flat and peg it down with j hooks both sides .Dribble the oil from the pilchards along the bank to the trap .This time of year I put two traps back to back and have caught dog and bitch many times .Shoot your catches as they take several minutes to drown .Use the urine from a catch as a lure for next catch .Move traps frequently and set on sign .Good luck .

 

 

Thank you for your comments, will be starting at weekend, so let you know, if and when I catch my first ever mink - it`s exciting

 

Well no catches of Mink over last few weeks, guess no mink about, certainly no fresh evidence seen by me or owner

[PLEDGEY 496]

Never made one myself but here is all the gumf on one. Raft Trap.https://www.gwct.org.uk/advisory/guides/mink-raft-guidelines/

[Welsh_red 4,806]

Never made one myself but here is all the gumf on one. Raft Trap.https://www.gwct.org.uk/advisory/guides/mink-raft-guidelines/

 

literally set mine tonight . I caught a mink in one last year.