Nala wrote: Hi, Was in the car today when a jet black stoat ran straight out in front of us (we slammed on the brakes and it was OK). I didn't even know there was stoats in Ireland and I always thought they were brown with a white belly? It was in Kilcock, I am wondering maybe it was a mink escaped from a fur farm or something? (PS There is no way this was a cat, it was definitely a stoat or maybe a ferret).
Introduction Mink were first farmed for their fur in Ireland in the early 1950s. Within ten years there were around forty mink farms or ranches across Ireland, housing thousands of animals. The first documented escape of farm bred mink occurred in 1961 when thirty mink escaped from a fur farm near Omagh, County Tyrone. Since then there have been many escapes and deliberate releases. As a result, mink have become firmly established in the wild throughout Ireland. At present there are no mink farms in Northern Ireland and only a handful in the Republic of Ireland. Description Mink are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae). They have long, sinuous bodies, short legs with partly-webbed feet and a moderately bushy tail. The head is bluntly pointed with small rounded ears that are almost hidden in the fur. Males can measure 50-70cm from nose to tail and weigh up to 1½kg; females are smaller. The fur is dark chocolate brown (appears black) and made up of long, hard, shiny guard hairs with a short undercoat of slightly lighter soft dense fur. White patches are usually seen on the chin, chest and belly. Country of origin Canada and North America. Location in Northern Ireland Widespread throughout Ireland. In Northern Ireland it is more common in counties Tyrone and Fermanagh. Life cycle Mink are solitary, territorial animals, both males and females select an area of land (territory) that they will defend. A male will not tolerate another male within its territory, but is usually less aggressive towards females. Within its territory a mink will have several dens to shelter in, usually in the roots of riverside trees, amongst boulders or in old rabbit burrows. Although mainly nocturnal, mink are often seen during the day. Mating takes place between February and early April, up to six young are born about 30 days later, depending on food and weather conditions. The kids are born deaf, blind and hairless but grow quickly and are weaned by the time they are eight weeks old. They remain with their mothers during the summer, but move away to find their own territories in the autumn. Mink are semi-aquatic and are rarely found far from water. They prefer slow shallow rivers and lakes with lots of bankside vegetation. In some coastal areas mink may be found on rocky sea shores. Mink are fast, agile carnivores and will eat anything that they can catch and kill. Their diet is made up of fish mainly, birds (coots and moorhens), young rabbits, rats and crayfish. Wildlife impacts Mink can easily cross several kilometres of water allowing them to access inshore islands where they pose a serious threat to colonies of ground-nesting seabirds such as terns, gulls and black guillemots. Habitat impacts None. Human impacts If the opportunity arises, mink will kill and eat game birds and ornamental fowl.
fits wrote: Also stay away from them if you see one
sesswhat wrote: Why is that?
fits wrote: I did say 'when cornered'. The mink in question was definitely 'cornered' and I locked the dogs away in order to allow it to escape. It would have attacked if it had to, I have no doubt about that. I think any other animal would have quietly hidden away in a corner until it was free to get away. This one absolutely raised hell... I've never heard a noise like it, incredible stuff. I didnt mean to imply that they would attack if unprovoked at all.
sesswhat wrote: Most small predators would raise hell if cornered, even your neighbours cat for that matter, but no dog much bigger than a Chihuahua is likely to be in danger.
Tegan Gentle Weevil wrote: Thus the danger of hearsay!
