Confirming the presence of MINK

el tel

On the land where I shoot there is a river which, according to the owner, is home to otters. I've known the place all my life but have never seen one. Recently my old man saw something about 100 yards from the bank which *thinks* might have been a mink.

Anyway, on Saturday I was there (shooting grey squirrels) and noticed at various places some holes scraped into the ground, about 4" across and 4" deep. At the bottom of each of the holes was a black, liquidy pile of excrement.

Would this be otter behaviour or could it be mink behaviour?

mallards

I remember seeing this El Tel,

http://www.gct.org.uk/uploads/minkraftleaflet.pdf

Seems a good idea to help identify if its otter or mink scat you seen.
Although a little hassle!

Mallards.

robp

Those pits sound really like badger.
Otters leave oily fishy remains but their usually on raised ground or tussocks.
I am not sure about what mink leave.

Terrier

el tel wrote: »

black, liquidy pile of excrement.

I have seen this on a river bank I trap lots of Mink on. Either use the Mink Raft or if you can check traps daily use a mink live cage trap

NoNameRanger

robp wrote: »

Those pits sound really like badger.
Otters leave oily fishy remains but their usually on raised ground or tussocks.
I am not sure about what mink leave.

Sounds like badgers to me too. Otter scat usually has plenty of fish bones and scales in it and the texture varies from very soild to almost liquid, the most distinctive thing is the smell, otter scat has a sweet musky smell. Mink scat on the other hand will sometimes have fish bones in it but they feed mostly on small mammals and birds so it has a much more pungent smell, rotting flesh smell and is not plesant.

el tel

Thanks for the replies.

BryanL

mink spraints have a bitter after taste compared to otters:eek::D:eek:

ivanthehunter

look for other badger signs!
badgers usually leave small spots in grass where they have removed the grass and roots to obtain worm etc. This is difficult to see in foxy Grass but its plain as day in or around well grazed lands. A trip down to the spot a 2am will answer a good few question.
Try looking for foot prints in soft mud in or around the bank and at the holes in the bottom of the surrounding fences, these holes will be quite big.

lusoshooter

Terrier wrote: »

I have seen this on a river bank I trap lots of Mink on. Either use the Mink Raft or if you can check traps daily use a mink live cage trap

I notice you are from the area of Galway,I'm just arrived to Ireland and I'm trying to get in hunting and shooting do you Know any Clubs around ??