Mink, Mink Control, Mink Cages & Traps – Worksop (Nottinghamshire)
The North American Mink (Neovison vison)was first imported to the U.K in 1929 for fur farming. Over a period of time the mink escaped or were released in to the wild where they became widely established and have continued to spread. Mink have a devastating effect on the wildlife such as wild fowl populations and will also kill a variety of domestic poultry, small pet’s, game birds, ornamental waterfowl, and commercial stocks of fish and birds. They will also, if given the opportunity surplus kill, i.e. they will kill more than there feeding requirements.
Mink usually reside by water where there is thick vegetation along the river banks.
Apperance:
Minks are usually dark brown to almost black in colour with a white patch on the chin. They resemble weasels and stoats to which they are related. A full grown male weighs on average 1.2 kegs and is 60 cms long and a female mink weighs half of this and is around 50cms long.
Biology:Breeding takes place in the spring time between February and March. The young are born in late April to May and are weaned at about 8 Weeks. They will stay with the mother until the back end of summer when the family disperses and they live a solitary life style until the following breeding season.
Signs of presence:
- Mink are rarely seen, but the first indication of their presence is a great decrease in the wildfowl populations. Some mink have become very bold and entered people’s premises during the day.
- Mammals and birds are killed by a single bite at the back of the neck and fish by a bite between the head and the dorsal fin. (Stoats ferrets and pole cats kill in a similar way).
- Droppings are usually 6-9 cms long and 9 mm in diameter blackish in colour sausage shaped and pointed and twisted and pointed at the end they sometimes show evidence of fur feathers and scales in the droppings and have a unpleasant smell unlike the Otter dropping which has a sweater smell and is composed of mainly fish remains.
- You sometimes see footprints in mud or sand banks which are arched with 5 toes, sometimes you will only see 4 with a large pad and claws and occasionally, though rare, you may see the webbing in-between the toes.
- Cage Trapping can be used to control Mink and is very effective when used in a regular cage trapping programme.
- Spring Traps which are approved for mink can be used and are also effective if used in correct conditions.
It is illegal to gas or poison Mink:
Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932: It is illegal to keep mink without a license.Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: It is illegal to release mink in to the wild.
Spring Trap Approval order 1995: Only approved spring traps can be used.
Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996: Prohibits the cruel treatment of all wild mammals, but allows legitimate pest control by humane means.
If you have problems with Mink please contact Pest control Solutions for a free survey.